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  • MIL-OSI China: Housing sector likely to see better days ahead

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The positive buying sentiment in the new-home market across major Chinese cities has greatly boosted confidence and expectations for a strong sales season in March and April, said industry experts on Thursday after digesting the home transaction data of the Spring Festival holiday.

    The Chinese New Year holiday started on Jan 28 and wrapped up on Tuesday. According to official data, the 28 major Chinese cities monitored by the China Index Academy reported an 8 percent growth in daily new-home transaction space year-on-year.

    More specifically, Guangzhou, Guangdong province witnessed a 47 percent year-on-year surge in new home trades during the Spring Festival holiday, with Beijing recording a moderate growth of 5 percent. Strong growth was also seen in second-tier cities including Nanjing, Jiangsu province; Nanchang, Jiangxi province; and Wuhan, Hubei province.

    “It is expected that transaction volume of both new and pre-owned homes in these cities would welcome an evident rebound after the holiday,” said Li Yifeng, deputy director of research at the China Index Academy.

    “The overall housing market saw stable performance during this year’s Chinese New Year, despite the fact that the holiday is a conventional low season for home transactions. As a result, a significant rebound is highly expected after the holiday,” Li said.

    The positive feedback in the market — coupled with factors like warm weather, year-end bonuses, stable work and life, and promotions launched by developers — is likely to persuade more potential homebuyers to make purchases, Beijing Business Today reported.

    “The increase in the number of visits is encouraging, which indicates the previous policies are taking effect and homebuying demand is still strong,” said Cao Xiaoning, a real estate agent for a residential project in Beijing’s Shijingshan district developed by China Overseas Land and Investment Ltd, a unit of Beijing-based China State Construction Engineering Corp.

    Yan Yuejin, deputy head of the Shanghai-based E-House China R&D Institute, said the improved performance over the holiday shows the real estate market adjustment has bottomed out and is headed for a course of stabilization.

    “Currently, the property market is fully adjusting itself, and we expect homebuyers to become more optimistic regarding the sector’s outlook, and an early spring warming may be around the corner,” Yan said.

    Both new and pre-owned homes reported positive growth before the Chinese New Year holiday in January. In the 30 cities China Index Academy surveyed, new home traded space grew 4 percent year-on-year between Jan 1 and Jan 27, and the 20 key cities’ existing home trade volume surged 19 percent from a year ago during the same period.

    “With people returning to work after the holiday, their homebuying plans are also getting back on the right track. Therefore, a home transaction rebound is due in the near term,” Li said.

    Li added that considering the low base of the first quarter in 2024, new home traded volume is likely to be stable in the first quarter, and home prices in the secondary market will hopefully become stabilized.

    “But the market is still in need of policy support for its sustained stabilization,” said Li.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign visitors experience China’s mobile payment environment

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Tourists from France enjoy a soup dumpling at Yuyuan Garden Mall in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Foreign visitors in China experienced a smoother, more convenient travel environment during this year’s Spring Festival, thanks to improvements to the country’s mobile payment systems.

    The latest data from the People’s Bank of China shows that the volume of transactions made by international tourists during the Chinese New Year holiday, which ran from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4 this year, surged significantly from last year. The total number of cross-border transactions processed by China UnionPay and NetsUnion Clearing Corporation increased 124.54 percent, and the total transaction value grew 90.49 percent.

    This jump in payment activity reflects not only the growing appeal of China as a travel destination but also the seamless integration of mobile payment systems for foreign visitors.

    In cities like Shanghai, foreign tourists can now use international credit cards or mobile payment apps such as Alipay for shopping, dining and sightseeing, which allowed tourists to enjoy the cultural experiences on offer fully during the Chinese New Year.

    German tourist Carla Uhrmacher, who visited the famous Yuyuan Garden in the eastern Chinese metropolis of Shanghai, was impressed by the ease with which she could use her mobile payment app to buy traditional Chinese crafts and souvenirs. “Whether using Visa or Mastercard, or mobile payment systems, it’s all very seamless,” she noted, highlighting how accessible these payment methods are for international visitors.

    This Spring Festival saw an increase in payment transactions and a significant rise in the number of foreign visitors to China. Inbound arrivals during this year’s Spring Festival hit a record high, with a 150 percent year-on-year leap reported, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, told a press conference on Wednesday, citing data from third-party platforms.

    While popular destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou continued to attract large numbers of foreign travelers during the holiday, cities like Suzhou, Xi’an, Chengdu and Xiamen emerged as new favorites for international tourists using mobile payment services, Alipay data shows.

    This surge in international visitors can be largely attributed to China’s ongoing efforts to enhance its payment services for foreigners. The country has made it easier for international travelers to use their foreign credit cards by allowing them to link these cards directly to popular Chinese mobile payment platforms like Alipay and WeChat Pay.

    An increasing number of international e-wallets are now also supported for use in China. Alipay, for example, now allows users to link 13 different overseas e-wallets from countries like the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore.

    Though cashless payment services have improved significantly, foreign tourists can also take advantage of a network of nearly 70,000 bank branches, 320,000 ATMs, and currency exchange facilities across the country.

    This year’s Spring Festival also saw a notable increase in foreigner spending, particularly in cities like Beijing, where tourists from various countries flocked to shopping areas such as Qianmen Street to purchase souvenirs, local teas and trendy clothing.

    This spending boom is backed by figures, with the number of transactions made by foreign visitors on WeChat increasing 134 percent compared to last year’s Spring Festival, and with the total spent via Alipay rising 150 percent during the first five days of the holiday. These figures reflect not only the convenience of mobile payments but also the growing enthusiasm of foreign tourists to purchase Chinese goods and immerse themselves in local culture.

    An increasingly open China is becoming an even more attractive destination for international tourists as Chinese New Year is celebrated globally, and as payment services continue to improve, analysts in China have noted. And these improved payment experiences will make China travel even smoother and more enjoyable for international visitors.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Duty-free sales enjoy Spring Festival boost

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    This aerial photo taken on April 4, 2023 shows the Haikou International Duty-Free Shopping Complex in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    During the Spring Festival holiday spanning from Jan 28 through Tuesday, Haikou Customs recorded transactions totaling 2.09 billion yuan ($287 million) in duty-free shopping, with 240,500 travelers departing from Hainan province engaging in duty-free purchases, averaging 8,706 yuan per person, surpassing last year’s figure of 8,358 yuan.

    Noteworthy was the achievement of 1.44 billion yuan in duty-free sales in Sanya. From Saturday to Tuesday, duty-free sales in the city exceeded 200 million yuan for four consecutive days. As of Wednesday, duty-free sales in Sanya had risen by 18.1 percent year-on-year, with shopping and foot traffic increasing by 21.9 percent and 13.8 percent, respectively, setting a new high.

    “There are many more brands than the last time I visited, and the products are very comprehensive. I also used government consumption vouchers,” said a tourist surnamed Zhang from Beijing, at Sanya International Duty Free City on Tuesday, as she took advantage of her vacation to buy the coat and skincare products she had been eyeing.

    Throughout this year’s Spring Festival holiday, the diverse tourism resources across Hainan attracted visitors from outside the island, propelling duty-free consumption.

    Sanya International Duty Free City organized a range of events that capitalized on this momentum by blending intangible cultural heritage with duty-free offerings. “We established five major intangible cultural heritage experiential zones featuring calligraphy, sugar painting, lacquer fans, rubbings and paper-cutting, which were warmly received by tourists, especially families,” said Fu Bing, the mall’s event planner.

    Collaborating with over 900 brands and offering 45 major duty-free product categories, Sanya International Duty Free City introduced promotions like gifts with purchases, multiple membership reward points and exclusive Chinese New Year Zodiac products for the Year of the Snake, complemented by government consumption vouchers and subsidies for digital product purchases.

    To attract consumers, Sanya and Haikou distributed over 67 million yuan in offshore duty-free shopping vouchers, which can be stacked with in-store discounts.

    At Global Premium Duty Free Plaza in Haikou, products are available starting from a minimum of 70 percent off. Liu Jia, assistant to general manager of the plaza, said that foot traffic increased by around 55 percent compared to the eight days prior to the Spring Festival holiday, leading to a significant boost in sales performance and marking a prosperous start of the year in terms of sales.

    A salesperson from a fragrance and cosmetics brand at Haikou International Duty-Free City said that all items are discounted to a minimum of 20 percent off for every three items purchased. A tourist surnamed Chen from Guangdong province bought a bottle of concentrated repair essence, saying, “The original price was 3,920 yuan. After the discount, it was only 2,548 yuan. Such a good deal.”

    At the Haikou Xinhai Ro-Ro Passenger Terminal hub, adjacent to Haikou International Duty Free City, a steady stream of tourists queue at the port channel’s off-island duty-free pickup point.

    “We have dispatched personnel to duty-free shopping malls to promote and educate on offshore duty-free policies and shopping procedures, fully supporting duty-free sales,” said Wang Yang, head of the duty-free product supervision department at Haikou Port Customs.

    Huang Jing, deputy head of the duty-free supervision department at Sanya Customs, said, “To address difficulties faced by travelers due to changes in off-island information for pickup and verification, we have developed a passenger rebooking information comparison system and an off-island duty-free verification application mini-program, enabling passengers to self-enter rebooking information, providing convenience to many travelers.”

    Guo Jianmeng, director of the port supervision division of Haikou Customs, emphasized the commitment to exploring innovative pathways for intelligent supervision of offshore duty-free in Hainan Free Trade Port, aiming to boost the consumer market’s vitality and contribute to the development of offshore duty-free industries, aligning with Hainan’s vision of becoming an international tourism consumption center.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Electronic information manufacturing sector posts fast growth

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    People try out Huawei smartphones in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, Sept. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s electronic information manufacturing sector registered robust growth in 2024, with the added value of major enterprises in the sector increasing 11.8 percent from the previous year, official data showed on Thursday.

    The combined operating revenues of the sector’s major firms rose 7.3 percent year on year to 16.19 trillion yuan (about 2.26 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

    During the period, the combined profits of these companies increased 3.4 percent year on year to 640.8 billion yuan, the data showed.

    Among major products, a total of 1.67 billion mobile phones were produced in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 7.8 percent. About 1.25 billion smartphones were manufactured, growing 8.2 percent from the previous year.

    Major companies in the sector are those with a main annual business revenue of at least 20 million yuan.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 3rd supply chain expo to be held in July

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    This photo shows the smart vehicle exhibition area at the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The third China International Supply Chain Expo will be held in Beijing from July 16 to 20 this year, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) said on Thursday.

    With a total exhibition area of 120,000 square meters, the expo features six major exhibition areas — namely advanced manufacturing, clean energy, smart vehicles, digital technology, healthy living and green agriculture.

    To date, nearly 200 companies have signed up to participate, the CCPIT revealed.

    As the world’s first national-level exhibition focusing on supply chains, the expo is an internationally shared public product. First held in 2023, the expo has contributed to building more secure, stable, open and inclusive global industrial and supply chains, according to the CCPIT.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Amazon posts net income, revenue growth in Q4 results

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Amazon.com, Inc. on Thursday announced its financial results for the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31, 2024, with net sales of 187.8 billion U.S. dollars, up 10 percent year on year.

    The company’s net income increased to 20.0 billion dollars in the fourth quarter, or 1.86 dollars per diluted share, compared with 10.6 billion dollars, or 1.00 dollars per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2023.

    Its net income increased to 59.2 billion dollars in the full year of 2024, or 5.53 dollars per diluted share, compared with 30.4 billion dollars, or 2.90 dollars per diluted share, in 2023.

    Amazon’s net sales increased 11 percent to 638.0 billion dollars in 2024, compared with 574.8 billion dollars in 2023.

    The company’s operating cash flow increased 36 percent to 115.9 billion dollars for the trailing 12 months, compared with 84.9 billion dollars for the trailing 12 months ending Dec. 31, 2023.

    Its free cash flow increased to 38.2 billion dollars for the trailing 12 months, compared with 36.8 billion dollars for the trailing 12 months ending Dec. 31, 2023.

    “The holiday shopping season was the most successful yet for Amazon,” said Andy Jassy, president and CEO of Amazon.

    The introduction of new Trainium2 artificial intelligence chip, the foundation models in Amazon Nova, and the next edition of Amazon SageMaker are among the most remarkable innovation delivered across Amazon’s businesses, he said, adding that these are substantial enablers in the emerging technology environment.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: France, Japan, U.S. Partner in Multi-Large Deck Event in Philippine Sea

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    PHILIPPINE SEA   –  

    U.S. forces will participate in Exercise Pacific Steller 2025, a multi-large deck event (MLDE) hosted by the French Navy in the Philippine Sea beginning Feb. 8. The exercise will involve ships from the U.S. Navy’s Vinson Carrier Strike Group (VINCSG), the French Carrier Strike Group, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

    This MLDE is designed to advance coordination and cooperation between French, Japanese and U.S. maritime forces while simultaneously demonstrating capabilities in multi-domain operations, promoting a shared dedication to regional stability, and highlighting the U.S. Navy’s enduring power projection capability.

    “Pacific Steller 2025 allows us to practice seamless integration with our French and Japanese allies in a multi-domain environment,” said Rear Adm. Michael Wosje, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1. “Coordinated operations between USS Carl Vinson, FS Charles De Gaulle, and JS Kaga strengthen our alliances and deter our adversaries. Together, we seek to maintain an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, free of all forms of coercion, and we’re excited to work alongside our allies and partners who share that vision.”

    The U.S.-France alliance is built on a legacy of shared interests, values, and a commitment to freedom and human rights.

    “It is a great opportunity for the French Carrier Strike Group to cooperate with our partners in the Indo-Pacific during the whole deployment. While France is a resident nation of the Indo-Pacific, it has not deployed its CSG to this part of the world for a long time,” said Rear Adm. Jacques Mallard, commander, French CSG. “Since January 14, the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, based in Toulon more than 6000 miles from here, is sailing in a different area. There is no doubt that PACIFIC STELLER will ramp up to a new level of interoperability for our three navies and represents a challenge that we are more than eager to take up alongside Japanese and US partners.”

    The most recent MLDE in the Indo-Pacific occurred in August 2024 between the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and the Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550). The event marked the first MLDE conducted between the U.S. and Italian navies in the Indo-Pacific region.

    “Our routine integration aims to showcase our partnership and demonstrate our ability to work together with our French and Japanese allies,” said Capt. Matthew Thomas, commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). “Pacific Steller 2025 is one of many exercises with the goal to enhance the maritime security of the Indo-Pacific region. As the flagship of CSG-1, Carl Vinson stands ready and looks forward to participating alongside Charles De Gaulle and Kaga.”

    MLDEs are conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other states.

    Participating large-deck ships include the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), the French carrier FS Charles De Gaulle, and Japan’s Izumo-class multi-functional destroyer JS Kaga (DDH-184).

    CSG-1 consists of Carl Vinson, embarked staffs of CSG-1 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) one, Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW) 2, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110).

    CVW-2 is composed of nine squadrons flying the F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, CMV-22 Osprey and MH-60R/S Seahawks.

    French Carrier Strike Group consists of Charles De Gaulle, its embarked French Strike Force staff and carrier air wing, an air-defense destroyer, multi-mission frigates, a supply ship, an attack submarine, and a detachment of Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft.

    The French carrier air wing flies the Rafale Marine (F4) fighter aircraft, E-2C Hawkeye, and Dauphin, Caiman Marine, and Panther helicopters.

    The French Carrier Strike Group is currently engaged in Mission CLEMENCEAU 25, sailing alongside its allies and strategic partners to promote a free, open and stable Indo-Pacific space for the benefit of French populations, interests, and those of their regional partners, within the framework of international law.

    The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

    For more news from CSG-1 and Carl Vinson visit: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/CSG1, https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/CVN70

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: WRAIR empowers far-forward medics with advanced behavioral health training

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  –  

    In January 2025, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research joined forces with the 65th Medical Brigade at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, to conduct a train-the-trainer course on Behavioral Health Guidelines for mEdic Assessment and Response. Designed to equip medics and unit helpers—many without prior behavioral health training—with essential skills for assessing and addressing mental health issues, the course marks a significant step toward bolstering mental health support within military units.

    Led by Dr. Katie Nugent, a behavioral health epidemiologist at WRAIR’s Military Psychiatry branch, the three-and-a-half-day program was supported by an expert team that included Dr. Josh Wilk, Ms. Kristina Clarke-Walper, Maj. Jose Nunuz, Capt. George Mesias, and Ms. Mary Sampson. The training provided a comprehensive, hands-on experience that prepared participants not only to implement BH GEAR within their own units but also to train others, thereby creating a multiplier effect.

    “We know that behavioral health problems are commonly experienced, but in garrison and far-forward environments, there just aren’t enough trained providers to meet the need” said Dr. Nugent on BH GEAR’s origin. “Medics are ideally suited to fill this need because they are already monitoring their unit’s health.”

    Recent data underscores that medics often feel less confident when discussing mental health compared to physical health. To address this, BH GEAR was developed to enhance medics’ knowledge and confidence in identifying and managing mental health concerns, ensuring they have the practical tools needed to support their units effectively.

    This course was the fifth iteration of the BH GEAR train-the-trainer program, following successful sessions at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Fort Drum, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, and Fort Bliss. The training format is dynamic and interactive: after observing a sample session on the first day, participants were divided into groups to practice segments of the training, receive targeted feedback, and refine their delivery techniques. The curriculum also covered common challenges in facilitation and provided extensive training materials to ensure that every participant could confidently conduct BH GEAR sessions independently.

    Dr. Nugent emphasized the importance of this hands-on approach: “you can’t just show them the training and be done with it. Our method of breaking into groups, practicing, and receiving feedback ensures that each trainee is fully prepared to lead BH GEAR training within their own unit.”

    The successful delivery of the training at Camp Humphreys represents a significant milestone toward more widespread implementation of BH GEAR. “Our team is excited to meet the increasing demand for mental health support,” Dr. Nugent said. “We are actively working to integrate BH GEAR into the initial, annual, and pre-deployment training curricula for Army, Navy, and Air Force medics. This integration is essential for ensuring that medics are equipped to safeguard not only the physical but also the mental well-being of their units.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Call With Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    Department of Defense Spokesman John Ullyot provided the following readout:

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh held an introductory call today to reaffirm their shared commitment to the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership. The leaders agreed to pursue an ambitious agenda to accelerate our operational cooperation and defense industrial and technology collaboration to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific. The Secretary noted he looks forward to holding the next 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and concluding the next ten-year U.S.-India Defense Framework this year.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on February 06, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 5,62,738.64 6.29 3.50-8.00
         I. Call Money 14,447.56 6.45 5.15-6.60
         II. Triparty Repo 3,61,611.60 6.25 6.10-6.35
         III. Market Repo 1,84,089.88 6.33 3.50-6.60
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 2,589.60 6.94 6.45-8.00
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 69.50 6.28 6.10-6.35
         II. Term Money@@ 368.50 – 6.60-6.70
         III. Triparty Repo 2,346.00 6.35 6.30-6.40
         IV. Market Repo 1,000.00 6.50 6.50-6.50
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Thu, 06/02/2025 1 Fri, 07/02/2025 21,674.00 6.51
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Thu, 06/02/2025 1 Fri, 07/02/2025 163.00 6.75
    4. SDFΔ# Thu, 06/02/2025 1 Fri, 07/02/2025 1,22,506.00 6.25
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -1,00,669.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo Fri, 24/01/2025 14 Fri, 07/02/2025 1,62,096.00 6.51
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       8,328.42  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     1,70,424.42  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     69,755.42  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on February 06, 2025 8,95,198.92  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending February 07, 2025 9,12,544.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ February 06, 2025 21,674.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on January 10, 2025 -40,102.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2024-2025/2093

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Denounces Trump’s Proposal for U.S. to “Take Over” Gaza

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – This week, after President Trump called for the U.S. to “take over” and “own” Gaza, forcibly resettling its population in the process, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, rejected the proposal, stating:

    “I am appalled by President Trump’s declaration that the United States should occupy and rebuild Gaza, potentially with American military forces.  His callous proposal is outrageous and contrary to the long-term interests of the U.S., Gaza, Israel, and our partners in the region.  Trump’s bluster undermines decades of bipartisan support for a two-state solution, gives ammunition to our adversaries, and sows distrust among our allies.

    “Involving the U.S. in the forced resettlement of Palestinians would be immoral and illegal.  Further, if he were to put U.S. troops on the ground in Gaza it would be a disastrous national security mistake. 

    “I urge Israeli and Palestinian leaders to move beyond the current ceasefire toward a long-term plan for governance and a framework for a two-state solution.  President Trump should control his impulse to inject chaos into this delicate situation.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As New Evidence Shows Trump’s Treasury Officials Misled on DOGE Access to Sensitive Payment Systems, Reed Demands Specific Answers & an End to DOGE Coverup

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – New evidence indicates Elon Musk’s lieutenants from the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (“DOGE”) were in fact more involved with attempting to access and suspend payments through the U.S. Treasury Department’s highly sensitive payment processing system.

    The New York Times reported on recently uncovered e mails from senior Treasury officials, noting: “emails reviewed by The New York Times show that the Treasury’s chief of staff originally pushed for Tom Krause, a software executive affiliated with Mr. Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, to receive access to the closely held payment system so that the Treasury could freeze U.S. Agency for International Development payments.

    “In a Jan. 24 email to a small group of Treasury officials, the chief of staff, Dan Katz, wrote that Mr. Krause and his team needed access to the system so they could pause U.S.A.I.D. payments and comply with Mr. Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order to halt foreign aid.”

    Senator Reed and other lawmakers have been seeking answers about how, why, and whether Mr. Musk’s DOGE operatives gained access to highly sensitive personal data and payment information for millions of Americans and businesses.

    After sending a letter to new Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on February 3 and receiving evasive answers and suspect assurances from Treasury on February 4, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee, which oversees funding for Treasury, fired off a follow up letter seeking more specific answers to determine exactly who from DOGE has been given access to what Treasury payment and information technology (IT) and what kind of vetting process those people have undergone.

    Reed is particularly alarmed that Treasury officials equivocated in their response that members of DOGE “currently . . . will have read-only access to the coded data” of Treasury’s payment systems. Reed wants to know if anyone from DOGE previously had more access.

    Senator Reed is also seeking to determine what level of access has been granted to Tom Krause, who is currently a big tech CEO and now serves as Elon Musk’s DOGE commander inside the Treasury Department. Does he have access beyond read-only?  While Mr. Krause was apparently granted some type of security clearance, Reed wants to know whether he received any actual vetting and whether other members of DOGE have a similar clearance? 

    Senator Reed is also seeking to determine exactly what permissions DOGE employees have to review Americans’ most sensitive data, such as tax information.  While DOGE employees have access that is “similar” to the permissions provided to others with a need to review this data, such as auditors, that necessarily means that there are “differences,” too, which could have grave consequences for the privacy of all Americans.

    Finally, Senator Reed is seeking information about DOGE attempts to block authorized spending to institutions that are politically disfavored by Trump and Elon Musk.  While Treasury asserts that no payments were “delayed or re-routed,” new reporting indicates that Treasury did, in fact, attempt to block payments.

    Full text of the letter follows:

    February 5, 2025

    The Honorable Scott Bessent, Secretary

    U.S. Department of the Treasury

    1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

    Washington, DC 20220

    Dear Secretary Bessent: 

    Thank you for the prompt response from your staff to my letter, dated February 3, 2025, regarding access to U.S. Treasury Department payment systems by surrogates of Elon Musk.  Regrettably, the letter did not address many of the specific questions I asked, and in fact, it raised additional issues that the Department should address.

    Therefore, I respectfully request answers to several follow-up questions by February 10, 2025:

     

    1.         The response letter states that “currently, Treasury staff members working with Tom Krause, a Treasury employee, will have read-only access to the coded data of the Fiscal Service’s payment systems.” 

    a.         What access does Mr. Krause himself have to these systems?

    b.         Did the access that you initially granted to Mr. Krause or these staff members include permissions beyond “read-only” or access to data with identifiable fields? 

    c.         Are you evaluating whether to provide Mr. Krause and these staff members with additional permissions beyond “read-only” and access to coded data?

    d.         How many Treasury staff members are working with Mr. Krause on this matter?

    2.         The response letter states that “the review at the Fiscal Service has not caused payments for obligations such as Social Security and Medicare to be delayed or re-routed.” 

    a.         Did Tom Krause, or any Treasury staff members working with him, ever attempt to delay or re-route any payments or inquire with career Treasury staff about how to do so?

    b.         Can you commit that Treasury will not delay or re-route any statutorily directed payments?

    3.         The response letter states that “Mr. Krause is subject to the same security obligations and ethical requirements [as other government employees], including a Top Secret security clearance.” 

    a.         Was his clearance granted through the customary practices used for veteran, career Treasury staff members?

    b.         Is his clearance at the level that is customary for the Fiscal Assistant Secretary, which I understand to be TS/SCI with a counterintelligence-scope polygraph?

    4.         For the Treasury staff members working with Mr. Krause who currently have “read-only” access:

    a.         Do they all have security clearances and if so, were these clearances granted through the customary practices used for veteran, career Treasury staff members?

    b.         Are any of them foreign nationals?

    c.         Are any of them designed as a “special government employee” and if so, how many have this designation?

    5.         Have Mr. Krause and the Treasury staff members working with him submitted financial disclosure forms to the Office of Government Ethics?

    Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your prompt reply.

    Sincerely,

    -end-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: February 6th, 2025 Heinrich Delivers Floor Remarks Opposing OMB Nominee Russell Vought, Highlights Vought’s Plans to Harm New Mexicans & Intensify Trump’s Chaos

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    Heinrich uplifts New Mexicans’ concerns, sheds light on local impact of Vought’s dangerous plans

    VIDEO

    WASHINGTON – This evening, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor amplifying the voices of New Mexicans opposing the nomination of Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Mr. Vought is the lead architect of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, the policy blueprint for Donald Trump’s harmful agenda to throw the government into chaos and harm working families.

    “Today, I say to the thousands of New Mexicans who have asked me to oppose Mr. Vought’s nomination: I agree with you,” said Heinrich. “Mr. Vought is not fit to lead the OMB. We should reject this dangerously unfit nominee before he dismantles the services New Mexicans rely on. We should reject him before he unilaterally overrides the laws that Americans’ elected representatives have passed. We cannot standby and allow Mr. Vought, Elon Musk, or this President to disregard the safety and security of the American people. The law is on our side.”

    VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivers remarks on the Senator floor opposing the nomination of Project 2025 architect Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), February 6, 2025.

    During his speech, Heinrich amplified the concerns of New Mexicans who have written or called into his office expressing concern over Trump’s harmful actions. Heinrich additionally recited alarming statements recently made by Vought that emphasize his dangerous plans, “In a private speech last year at his far-right Center for Renewing America think tank, Mr. Vought stated that he would like to put career civil servants ‘in trauma.’ Mr. Vought said, ‘We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected. When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains.”’

    Heinrich also emphasized the unlawfulness of Vought’s intentions and the Trump administration’s actions by citing rulings handed down from two federal courts that issued temporary restraining orders on Trump’s directives.

    Heinrich concluded by encouraging New Mexicans—and all Americans—to use their voices to call on Republicans in charge of the Senate, House, and White House to put an end to this chaos, “To all Americans wondering what can be done right now: keep using your voices. Call your Members of Congress. Call your Senators. Call the White House. Call the Treasury Department. Comment on your Republican Representatives’ social media channels. Write op-eds in your local newspaper. Make sure Republicans know that ‘We the People’ are paying attention. That we will hold them accountable for following the law and upholding our Constitution. And make sure to let your lawmakers know when you support the work they’re doing, so that they continue to do it. And let federal civil servants know that you support them, and that you want them to keep doing their jobs and doing them well.”

    Heinrich is leading Senate Democrats in sounding the alarm on Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s destructive actions that are wreaking havoc on Americans, weakening our economy, and threatening the livelihoods of New Mexicans.

    Last week on the Senate floor, Heinrich delivered the longest speech of his career, where he slammed President Trump’s unlawful unilateral blockade of all federal grant funding. In his remarks, Heinrich uplifted stories from New Mexicans on how Trump’s federal funding freeze endangered New Mexicans and threatened communities across the state. Find the video of Heinrich sharing letters from New Mexicans on the Senate floor here.

    Since Trump took office in 2025, Heinrich has:

    • Introduced a resolution condemning Trump’s pardons of people found guilty of assaulting police officers on January 6.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Johnson Urge President Trump to Protect IRS Whistleblowers from Further Retaliation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) today encouraged President Trump to stand up for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whistleblowers who exposed the Biden IRS and Justice Department’s efforts to obstruct the federal criminal investigation into Hunter Biden’s tax offenses. The Office of Special Counsel recently confirmed IRS Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley and IRS Special Agent Joseph Ziegler were illegally issued a gag order and retaliated against as a result of their efforts to sound the alarm on those responsible for slow-walking the Hunter Biden investigation.

    “We’ve been informed that the senior IRS management who refused to do their job, rolled over for political corruption at DOJ, and targeted the whistleblowers are still in charge,” the senators wrote. “We’ve been informed that these officials have not stopped the retaliation against Shapley and Ziegler, and the bureaucratic processes that are supposed to protect them are too slow and ineffective.” 

    “You must hold IRS leadership and the retaliators’ feet to the fire,” the senators continued. “You must ensure that these brave whistleblowers no longer face retaliation, which would serve as a great step in restoring the public’s trust in the fair and equal treatment of taxpayers that was so damaged by the blatant corruption and special treatment that provided protection and benefits to the Biden family.”

    “These brave public servants are ready to help reform and modernize the IRS. Your actions to protect them, to support them, and to hold the retaliators accountable will send a message to the entrenched bureaucratic interests that bravery, courage, expertise and integrity will be rewarded and bad conduct will be punished,” the senators concluded.

    February 06, 2025

    VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

    The Honorable Donald J. Trump

    President of the United States

    The White House

    Washington, DC

    Dear Mr. President:

    We’ve recently learned that the Office of Special Counsel has confirmed that IRS Supervisory Special Agent (“SSA”) Gary Shapley and IRS Special Agent (“SA”) Joseph Ziegler were illegally issued gag orders and retaliated against by the IRS under the Biden administration.

    These IRS whistleblowers made lawful protected disclosures about the IRS and the Justice Department playing politics by improperly pulling punches in the Hunter Biden tax case. Their whistleblowing exposed to the public that Attorney General Merrick Garland and his Justice Department misled Congress and the public about the role that Biden administration attorneys played in blocking charges against President Biden’s son.

    After blowing the whistle, and at the Justice Department’s direction, the IRS removed the whistleblowers and their entire team from the Biden investigation they had worked diligently for years. It’s been 20 months since the whistleblowers sought relief through the normal administrative and legal processes. While there is now an official finding that the IRS could not support its removal of the whistleblowers, the whistleblowers still face other types of ongoing retaliation every day. 

    This is unacceptable, and you have the power to put a stop to it today.

    We’ve been informed that the senior IRS management who refused to do their job, rolled over for political corruption at DOJ, and targeted the whistleblowers are still in charge.  We’ve been informed that these officials have not stopped the retaliation against Shapley and Ziegler and the bureaucratic processes that are supposed to protect them are too slow and ineffective. 

    You must hold IRS leadership and the retaliators’ feet to the fire.  You must ensure that these brave whistleblowers no longer face retaliation which would serve as a great step in restoring the public’s trust in the fair and equal treatment of taxpayers that was so damaged by the blatant corruption and special treatment that provided protection and benefits to the Biden family.

    These brave public servants are ready to help reform and modernize the IRS.  Your actions to protect them, to support them, and to hold the retaliators accountable will send a message to the entrenched bureaucratic interests that bravery, courage, expertise and integrity will be rewarded and bad conduct will be punished.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER DEMANDS ANSWERS: NEW YORK’S MEDICAID PORTAL JUST TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN AGAIN FOLLOWING TRUMP’S FUNDING FREEZE FIASCO LAST WEEK; SENATOR CALLS FOR FULL INVESTIGATION TO PROTECT NEARLY 7 MILLION…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    This Morning The Medicaid Portal And All U.S. Department Of Health & Human Services Websites Were Inoperable, Affecting Payments For Approximately 7 Million New Yorkers & Blocking New Yorkers From Receiving Reimbursements For Health Care Expenses

    Today’s Shutdown Marks Second Time In Two Weeks NY Has Been Locked Out Of Payments With No Explanation; Following Trump’s Illegal Federal Funding Freeze, Schumer Says Enough Is Enough And NY-ers Deserve Answers On What Is Happening With Their Healthcare Coverage

    Schumer: Continued Medicaid Portal Shutdowns – And Fed Funding Freeze – Create Panic, Confusion & Unnecessary Frustration

    After access to NY’s Medicaid portal was rendered inoperable once again this morning for the second time following Trump’s funding freeze fiasco, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today demanded answers from the Trump administration’s U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to explain why the federal platform responsible for disbursing Medicaid funds for NY and other state’s was shutdown. Despite OMB saying Medicaid would not be impacted by the freeze, every state across the country reported the payment system shutting down, temporarily jeopardizing payments needed for our doctors, rural clinics, community health centers, and hospitals and creating major concerns for the millions of New Yorkers who rely on this system.

    Schumer said the unexplained shutdowns of the Medicaid portal demands a full investigation and immediate answers to ensure health care services can have the confidence they need to continue vital healthcare services.

    “Following Trump’s funding freeze chaos, out of the blue and seemingly due to callousness and incompetence, the Medicaid Portal was inexplicably offline yet again today for the second time. Nearly 7 million New Yorkers were once again potentially left high and dry on healthcare. The repeated nationwide shutdown of the Medicaid payment system caused panic, confusion, and unnecessary frustration, especially following last week’s unexplained shutdown,” said Senator Schumer. “The federal government legally owes federal funding for New York State’s Medicaid program to provide reimbursement for health care costs for millions of fellow New Yorkers. Without it doctors and hospitals in New York can’t provide the care they need. The White House refused to clarify how their illegal federal funding freeze would impact Medicaid recipients and the shutdown of the portal both last week and today only intensifies people’s deep worry. I’m demanding HHS work with Congress to swiftly and transparently determine what caused the portal shutdown and how the administration can ensure a disruption like this doesn’t happen again. New Yorkers deserve nothing less.”

    Schumer said the Medicaid portal shutdown is part of larger confusion surrounding President Trump’s executive order freezing all federal funding. Though the White House said the Medicaid program would “continue without pause,” Medicaid portals across the country temporarily stopped working. Though the portal was later restored, it again became inoperable for a few hours this morning. Schumer explained that continued shutdowns put reimbursement payments for millions of New Yorkers at risk and demanded answers to ensure a shutdown will not happen again.

    Medicaid enrollment by region can be found below:

    Region

    Medicaid Enrollment

    NYC

    4,036,284

    Long Island

    679,724

    Capital Region

    214,632

    Western New York

    371,481

    Rochester-Finger Lakes

    304,234

    Central New York

    201,047

    Southern Tier

    181,450

    Hudson Valley

    678,375

    North Country

    106,160

    Mohawk Valley

    178,001

    Schumer and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Wyden letter to Acting Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Dorothy Fink sent prior to this morning’s shutdown can be found below:

    Dear Acting Secretary Dorothy Fink:

    We are writing to gain insight into the unlawful shutdown of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Payment Management Services (PMS) portal. As you know, the PMS portal, in addition to being the platform for hundreds of other transactions between states and HHS, serves as an interface between state Medicaid agencies and the federal government for drawing down federal funds to cover care provided to Medicaid beneficiaries in each state. As the health insurance program serving 80 million Americans, Medicaid is a key lifeline for communities across this country. The unexplained shutdown of the Medicaid portal raised questions about the continuity of care for beneficiaries and the financial stability of the providers and health centers that provide essential health care services.

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo (M-25-13) released on January 27 instructed federal agencies to temporarily pause grant, loan, and other financial assistance programs in response to President Trump’s Executive Orders directed at freezing federal funding. Alongside the memo, OMB circulated a spreadsheet of around 2,600 federal programs, including the “Medical Assistance Program” (i.e., Medicaid), and requested federal agencies submit information on whether they complied with the executive orders. During a White House briefing on the OMB memo, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, refused to clarify whether Medicaid was specifically implicated by the funding freeze, instead stating that she will “check back on that.” Following confusion and uncertainty about which programs were affected by the freeze, OMB released clarifications to the initial memo on January 28, stating “mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause.”

    Despite this, all 56 state and territorial Medicaid programs were locked out of the PMS portal for hours, unable to access funding. Shortly after the OMB memo was circulated, the PMS portal had a red banner warning of “PAYMENT DELAYS.” It stated that “due to the Executive Orders regarding potentially unallowable grant payments,” PMS was taking additional steps to process payments that “will result in delays and/or rejections of payment.” Upon restoration of the PMS portal, some states are reporting slow and inefficient portal service, creating difficulties for providers across the country. Additionally, a red banner remains on the PMS portal, warning of truncated hours of operation – 5:00am – 4:00pm ET – “until a further notice.”

    The lack of clarity on the cause of the portal shutdown creates concern that state partners cannot rely on the PMS portal. We request that HHS work to determine and disclose the cause of the portal shutdown and make necessary improvements to prevent future disruptions in the distribution of Medicaid funding.

    Specifically, we request that you please provide answers to the following questions:

    1. Since Medicaid is exempt from the Executive Order on freezing federal funding according to a clarifying OMB memo, why were state Medicaid offices locked out of the HHS PMS portal for hours after posting of the initial OMB memo on the funding freeze?
    2. Since Medicaid is exempt from the funding freeze, what is the reason for the PMS portal’s truncated hours of operation? When will the PMS portal return to normal operating hours to ensure continuity of care for Medicaid beneficiaries?
    3. What is HHS doing to restore normal operating speed and functioning to the PMS portal to support the reimbursement process?
    4. The unexplained freeze to the PMS portal has worried state Medicaid programs that there will be delays and rejections in reimbursement claims. What is HHS doing to assure state Medicaid programs that, due to Medicaid’s exemption from the funding freeze, there will not be increases in delays or rejections of claims?
    5. How is HHS working to analyze the amount of time that each state Medicaid program was locked out of the PMS portal?
    6. How is HHS working to quickly process reimbursement claims that required prioritization during the period that state Medicaid programs were locked out of the PMS portal?
    7. How will HHS better interpret and coordinate implementation of Executive Orders to prevent another unnecessary freeze to the PMS portal?
    8. The White House has responded that the portal shutdown was due to an “outage.” If this is the case, what is HHS doing to support technical operations to prevent future shutdowns and slowdowns of the portal? What was the cause of the technical outage?

    Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We request a response in 30 days, by March 3, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta and Coalition of 14 Attorneys General Release Statement on DOGE Access to Sensitive Personal Information

    Source: US State of California

    Thursday, February 6, 2025

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 14 attorneys general in releasing the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of the Treasury granting Elon Musk and his so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) staffers access to sensitive payment systems containing Americans’ personally identifiable information:

    “In the past week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has given Elon Musk access to Americans’ personal private information, state bank account data, and other information that is some of our country’s most sensitive data.

    “As the richest man in the world, Elon Musk is not used to being told ‘no,’ but in our country, no one is above the law. The President does not have the power to give away our private information to anyone he chooses, and he cannot cut federal payments approved by Congress. 

    “This level of access for unauthorized individuals is unlawful, unprecedented, and unacceptable. DOGE has no authority to access this information, which they explicitly sought in order to block critical payments that millions of Americans rely on – payments that support health care, childcare, and other essential programs. 

    “In defense of our Constitution, our right to privacy, and the essential funding that individuals and communities nationwide are counting on, we will be filing a lawsuit to stop this injustice.”

    Joining Attorney General Bonta in releasing this statement are the attorneys general of New York, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Statement on Confirmation of Russell Vought as Director of OMB

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    02.06.25

    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed Russell Vought to serve as the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB):

    “Russ Vought previously served as director of OMB during President Trump’s first term and we congratulate him on his confirmation to once again lead OMB,” said Hoeven. “We look forward to working with Director Vought and President Trump to cut red tape and rollback unnecessary government regulations. As the head of OMB, he will be an important partner as we work to rein in government spending and ensure we are using taxpayer dollars wisely. ”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Antitrust Legislation to Take on Algorithmic Price Fixing, Bring Down Costs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    February 06, 2025

    Senator says Preventing Algorithmic Collusion Act “will send a strong message to corporations that they won’t get away with coordinating to ratchet up prices on consumers.”

    Washington D.C.—U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would prevent companies from using algorithms to collude to set higher prices. This legislation builds off legislation Wyden introduced last year to crack down on companies that help landlords increase rents in already high-priced markets.

    “Collusion is collusion, whether you do it over the phone or using an algorithm. This legislation, along with my End Rent Fixing Act, will send a strong message to corporations that they won’t get away with coordinating to ratchet up prices on consumers,” said Wyden.

    As recent reporting, a Justice Department lawsuit, and multiple private lawsuits have shown, big corporations are using algorithms to raise prices and limit competition. This includes companies like RealPage that have facilitated collusion to increase rents by more than $3 billion in 2023 alone. This legislation would make such collusion illegal to lower costs for families and support small businesses.

    Price fixing and other forms of collusion are illegal under current antitrust laws. However, current antitrust laws may be insufficient when competing companies delegate their pricing decisions to an algorithm without agreeing to fix prices. Current law requires proof of an agreement to fix prices before condemning the conduct. When pricing decisions of multiple competitors are delegated to a single algorithm, that agreement may not exist even though the use of the algorithm may have the same effect as a traditional agreement to fix prices. This type of conduct has already occurred in rental housing.

    To strengthen current price fixing law, this Preventing Algorithmic Collusion Act would do the following:

    • Close a loophole in current law by presuming a price-fixing “agreement,” when direct competitors share non-public information through a pricing algorithm to raise prices;
    • Increase transparency by requiring companies that use algorithms to set prices to disclose that fact and give antitrust enforcers the ability to audit the pricing algorithm when there are concerns it may be harming consumers;
    • Ban companies from using non-public, competitively sensitive information from their direct competitors to inform or train a pricing algorithm;
    • Direct the Federal Trade Commission to study pricing algorithms’ impact on competition. 

    The legislation was led by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. Along with Wyden, the bill was co-sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Peter Welch, D-Vt. The Preventing Algorithmic Collusion Act is endorsed by Consumer Reports, the Open Markets Institute, and Accountable.US. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Belle Gibson built a ‘wellness’ empire on a lie about cancer. Apple Cider Vinegar expertly unravels her con

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edith Jennifer Hill, Associate Lecturer, Learning & Teaching Innovation, Flinders University

    Netflix

    Netflix’s new limited series, Apple Cider Vinegar, tells the story of the elaborate cancer con orchestrated by Australian blogger Annabelle (Belle) Gibson.

    The first episode opens with Gibson’s character (played by Kaitlyn Dever) breaking the wall between the performance and the audience, saying:

    This is a true story based on a lie. Some names have been changed to protect the innocent. Belle Gibson has not been paid for the recreation of her story.

    And from these first few seconds, we know, Gibson herself is not innocent.

    A familiar story

    For anyone who followed Gibson during her rise to fame in the 2010s – or her spectacular fall – the show feels eerily familiar.

    From the clothing, to the makeup, to the food, Apple Cider Vinegar excels in set design and staging. Every effort has been made to ensure this true story, based on a lie, looks like it did when it was unfolding on our phone screens in 2010s.

    As someone who followed Gibson closely and spent months hunting down the recalled cookbook to see if the health claims were as outlandish as I’d heard (they were), this show was a treat to watch.

    The scenes are cut with recreations of Belle’s stylised Instagram pictures of green juices, beaches and food with “no nasties”. Belle’s account was removed from Instagram after the massive public ousting of her hoax.

    Apple Cider Vinegar has done an incredible job recreating this account and breathing life back into the deleted content.

    Even after being caught out, the real Gibson claimed ‘unscrupulous natural therapists duped her into believing she was dying’, according to 60 Minutes.
    Netflix

    The cancer con

    While the core story of Apple Cider Vinegar is unpacking Gibson’s lies and path to destruction, it also shows us a very real and heartbreaking side to cancer.

    Other prominent characters include fellow influencer, Milla Blake (played by Alycia Debnam-Carey) and follower Lucy (played by Tilda Cobham-Harvey). Both of these women are battling cancer. We learn about their relationships with Gibson and how her lies so easily bled into their lives.

    We witness how alluring Gibson’s lies were for people who were desperately looking to feel “well”. We understand her magnetism, and just as easily to feel the rage of the families who watched as their loved ones deteriorated. In the words of Lucy’s partner:

    I’m not letting some influencer with a nose ring undercut years of medical research.

    Apple Cider Vinegar demonstrates how one can be taken down a path of cancer treatment quackery. The allure of alternative medicine is presented compellingly when contrasted with the painful realities of traditional cancer treatment.

    Milla, suffering from an aggressive form of cancer, seeks out alternative options after doctors recommend an amputation. She says:

    I didn’t know the words to describe the rage I felt when the doctors looked at my body and only saw disease.

    While holistic approaches to many diseases can be helpful when combined with traditional treatment, Apple Cider Vinegar illustrates how toxic it can be to “moralise” health.

    When people assign moral properties to neutral health conditions such as cancer, AIDS or COVID, this can lead to stigmatisation and feelings of being “bad”. Some characters in the show talk about how their behaviours led them to sickness and how “healthy” actions would save them (rather than medical treatment).

    The show also regularly uses language that is prominent in online health communities, such as referring to certain foods as “good” or “toxic”. In one scene, we see a character fall into a panic and call a holistic health professional after her parent takes a pain killer.

    The real story

    Apple Cider Vinegar is based on the book The Woman Who Fooled the World by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, two journalists who were instrumental in uncovering Gibson’s lies.

    Creator Samantha Strauss crafts this story expertly. We see Gibson’s story from all sides. We feel sympathy for her – for her childhood and loneliness – before being put in the shoes of someone whose partner is dying because they followed Gibson’s advice.

    Some characters and scenes have clearly been fabricated, such as when Gibson claims to see a doctor named “Dr Phil”. But these fabrications seem acceptable, because we are told from the beginning that’s what this show would do: create and fictionalise some characters.

    Other scenes feel very real. The character Milla Blake, a fellow influencer, is heavily inspired by the real woman who died in 2015 from epithelioid sarcoma.

    She made a platform online by sharing how she rejected traditional cancer treatment in favour of alternative treatments (Gerson therapy). Like Belle, she was a part of the inspirational speaking and author circuit at the time.

    Alycia Debnam-Carey (left) plays Milla Blake, a character based on a real woman who died from epithelioid sarcoma in 2015.
    Netflix

    In their book The Woman Who Fooled the World, Donelly and Toscano speculate about how Belle got close to this influencer (to follow her pattern of success online) and to other cancer patients, including a young boy and his family (to mimic symptoms and appear more authentic).

    Apple Cider Vinegar shows us hints of this behaviour. We see Belle begin to mimic the language of other people sharing their experiences with cancer and act in similar ways.

    Whether or not you are already familiar Gibson’s story, Apple Cider Vinegar is a compelling watch. You’ll especially love it if you enjoy non-fiction productions that play with ideas of truth such as iTonya, the Tinder Swindler and Inventing Anna.

    Apple Cider Vinegar is streaming now on Netflix.

    Edith Jennifer Hill 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. Belle Gibson built a ‘wellness’ empire on a lie about cancer. Apple Cider Vinegar expertly unravels her con – https://theconversation.com/belle-gibson-built-a-wellness-empire-on-a-lie-about-cancer-apple-cider-vinegar-expertly-unravels-her-con-248999

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Taking the ‘forever’ out of ‘forever chemicals’: we worked out how to destroy the PFAS in batteries

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jens Blotevogel, Principal Research Scientist and Team Leader for Remediation Technologies, CSIRO

    Mino Surkala, Shutterstock

    Lithium-ion batteries are part of everyday life. They power small rechargeable devices such as mobile phones and laptops. They enable electric vehicles. And larger versions store excess renewable energy for later use, supporting the clean energy transition.

    Australia produces more than 3,000 tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste a year. Managing this waste is a technical, economic and social challenge. Opportunities exist for recycling and creating a circular economy for batteries. But they come with risk.

    That’s because lithium-ion batteries contain manufactured chemicals such as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The chemicals carry the lithium – along with electricity – through the battery. If released into the environment, they can linger for decades and likely longer. This is why they’ve been dubbed “forever chemicals”.

    Recently, scientists identified a new type of PFAS known as bis-FASIs (short for bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides) in lithium-ion batteries and in the environment. Bis-FASIs have since been detected in soils and waters worldwide. They are toxic – just one drop in an Olympic-size swimming pool can harm the nervous system of animals. Scientists don’t know much about possible effects on humans yet.

    Bis-FASIs in lithium-ion batteries present a major obstacle to recycling or disposing of batteries safely. Fortunately, we may have come up with a way to fix this.

    There’s value in our battery wastes

    Currently, Australia only recycles about 10% of its battery waste. The rest is sent to landfill.

    But landfill sites could leak eventually. That means disposal of battery waste in landfill may lead to soil and groundwater contamination.

    We can’t throw away lithium-ion batteries in household rubbish because they can catch fire.

    So once batteries reach the end of useful life, we must handle them in a way that protects the environment and human health.

    What’s more, there’s real value in battery waste. Lithium-ion batteries contain lots of valuable metals that are worth recycling. Lithium, cobalt, copper and nickel are critical and finite metal resources that are in high demand. The recoverable metal value from one tonne of lithium-ion battery waste is between A$3,000 and $14,000.

    As more lithium-ion batteries explode in flames, waste chiefs say change is necessary (7.30)

    What does this mean for recycling of batteries?

    Battery recycling in Australia begins with collection, sorting, discharging and dismantling, before the metal is recovered.

    Metal recovery can be done via mechanical, high-temperature, chemical or biological methods. But this may inadvertently release bis-FASI, threatening recycling workers and the environment.

    Pyrometallurgy is the most common technique for recycling lithium-ion batteries. This involves incinerating the batteries to recover the metals. Bis-FASIs are incinerated at the same time.

    Yet PFAS chemicals are stable and can withstand high temperatures. The exact temperature needed to destroy PFAS is the biggest unknown in lithium-ion battery recycling.

    Determining this temperature was the focus of our research.

    The solution is hot – very hot!

    We teamed up with chemistry professor Anthony Rappé at Colorado State University in the United States. We wanted to work out the temperature at which bis-FASIs can be effectively incinerated.

    But figuring this out is tricky, not only because of the danger of working with high temperatures.

    The inside of incinerators is a hot mess. Molecules get torn apart. Some recombine to form larger molecules, and others interact with ashes produced during the burning process. This could produce toxic new substances, which then exit through a smokestack into the air outside.

    We don’t want PFAS going out through the smokestack.
    HJBC, Shutterstock

    To make matters worse, it’s not possible to measure all the substances that bis-FASIs break down into, because many of them are unknown.

    To help, we applied the science of quantum mechanics and solved the problem on a computer without ever going into the lab. The computer can accurately simulate the behaviour of any molecules, including bis-FASIs.

    We found that at 600°C, bis-FASI molecules start to separate into smaller fragments. But these fragments are still PFAS chemicals and could be more harmful than their parent chemicals.

    As a consequence, the absence of bis-FASIs in stack exhaust is not enough to deem the process safe. Much higher temperatures of 1,000°C and above are needed to break down bis-FASIs completely into harmless products. This is likely to be much higher than temperatures currently used, although that varies between facilities.

    Based on these findings, we built an innovative model that guides recyclers on how to destroy bis-FASIs during metal recovery by using sufficiently high temperatures.

    How do we avoid future risks?

    We are now collaborating with operators of high-temperature metal recovery and incineration plants to use our model to destroy PFAS in batteries.

    Recycling plants will have to use much higher temperatures to avoid problematic fumes and this will require more energy and financial investment.

    After our new guidance is implemented, we will test the recovered metals, solid residues, and exhausts to ensure they are free from PFAS.

    While we can tackle the PFAS problem now, it remains an expensive undertaking. Metal recovery processes must be upgraded to safely destroy bis-FASIs. Ultimately, consumers are likely to foot the bill.

    However, sending lithium-ion battery waste to landfill will damage the environment and be more expensive in the long run. Landfilling of bis-FASI-containing waste should therefore be avoided.

    Clearly, the battery recycling rate must improve. This is where everyday people can help. In the future, manufacturers should avoid using forever chemicals in batteries altogether. Development of safer alternatives is a key focus of ongoing research into sustainable battery design.

    Jens Blotevogel receives funding from the United States Department of Defense’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program.

    Naomi Boxall receives funding from the Australian Government under the National Environmental Science Program.

    – ref. Taking the ‘forever’ out of ‘forever chemicals’: we worked out how to destroy the PFAS in batteries – https://theconversation.com/taking-the-forever-out-of-forever-chemicals-we-worked-out-how-to-destroy-the-pfas-in-batteries-242769

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is botulism? How this ‘nerve-paralysing illness’ can be linked to dodgy botox

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney University

    Tijana Simic/Shutterstock

    The news last week that three people in Sydney were hospitalised with botulism after receiving botox injections has raised questions about the regulation of the cosmetic injectables industry.

    The three women allegedly received injections of unregulated anti-wrinkle products from the same provider at a Western Sydney home in January.

    The provider, who is not a registered health practitioner, is allegedly also linked to a case of botulism that occurred following a botox injection in Victoria in 2024.

    The provider has been banned from performing cosmetic procedures in New South Wales and Victoria while the incidents are investigated. Meanwhile, health authorities in both states have issued warnings about the practitioner.

    So, what exactly is botulism? And how can it be linked to botox?

    Botox and botulism

    Botox, or botulinum toxin, is a drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

    The botox toxin is a neurotoxin, which means it prevents the functioning of cells in the central nervous system. Specifically, it blocks the messages your nerves send to your muscles telling them to contract. In this way it can temporarily reduce wrinkles.

    While botox is best known for its cosmetic applications, it can also be used in the treatment of certain medical conditions, such as chronic migraines and muscle spasms.

    The toxin is used in a highly diluted form in botox injections. Notwithstanding the possibility of side effects (such as temporary pain and swelling at the injection site), botox is generally considered safe when conducted by licensed health practitioners.

    Botulism is likewise caused by a toxin produced by the bacteria C. botulinum.

    Instances of botulism linked to botox injections in the past have been attributed to counterfeit or mishandled product. Mishandling might include contamination from the toxin source in the diluted product, leading to a higher dose of the toxin, or improper refrigeration. Poor injection technique can also be a factor.

    When the botulinum toxin is not handled properly, the toxin can enter the bloodstream. This is how botulism occurs.

    Botulism can also be a food-borne illness

    C. botulinum can form spores and survive in tough conditions, meaning it can withstand many food preparation techniques.

    People who consume homemade preserved foods such as vegetables, particularly those that are not cooked during preparation, can be at a higher risk of food-borne botulism. Lower levels of salt and acid, as is the case with mild fermentation, can also increase the risk of the toxin being present.

    Botulism can be picked up from food.
    Dale Jackson/Pexels

    C. botulinum can also survive in soil and water. In this way, botulism can also be caused by bacteria from the environment. This can present as wound infections, or intestinal infection with C. botulinum in infants specifically.

    Intravenous drug users are at a higher risk of wound-borne botulism, while infants tend to suffer from gastrointestinal botulism because their gut microbiomes are still developing.

    It’s extremely rare

    Botulism is very unusual, with generally only about one case reported annually in Australia.

    However it’s very serious. It’s commonly referred to as a nerve-paralysing illness.

    Symptoms can develop within a few hours to several days after exposure to the toxin, and include drooping eyelids, difficulty breathing, facial weakness, blurred vision, difficulty swallowing and slurred speech. In infants it can cause floppy limbs and a weak cry.

    It’s treated by supporting breathing if necessary, and urgently administering a botox antitoxin, which binds to the toxin, preventing it from attaching to nerve cells in the body.

    Usually patients recover, although in some cases they may need to be in hospital for months, and sometimes symptoms such as fatigue and trouble breathing can last years.

    Botulism is fatal in 5–10% of cases.

    Botulism is a serious illness.
    Jason Grant/Shutterstock

    Is there anything people can do to stay safe?

    The cosmetic injectables industry is estimated to be worth A$4.1 billion in Australia and forecast to grow by almost 20% annually until 2030. These recent incidents in NSW and Victoria highlight the need for stronger regulation in this booming industry.

    If you’re considering a cosmetic botox injection, make sure it’s administered by a trusted professional, ideally someone registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

    Asking your practitioner about the injectable they’re using, and ensuring the specific product is registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration, can further limit any risk associated with botox procedures.

    If you make your own preserved foods, careful food production techniques and hygiene, as well as the addition of fermentation, acid, salt or heat treatment can limit the risk of food-borne botulism.

    Thomas Jeffries does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. What is botulism? How this ‘nerve-paralysing illness’ can be linked to dodgy botox – https://theconversation.com/what-is-botulism-how-this-nerve-paralysing-illness-can-be-linked-to-dodgy-botox-248765

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Extradition file to be prepared in Wellington assault case

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police investigating alleged criminal behaviour by visiting Vietnamese officials are preparing an extradition file.

    Police received two complaints of assault following an incident at a Wellington restaurant in March last year.

    Detectives investigating the matter identified the suspects as members of a Vietnamese delegation, who had already left the country.

    While no extradition treaty exists between New Zealand and Vietnam, Police have continued to explore all available options.

    Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says extradition needed to be explored, and preparing an extradition file is the next step in progressing this matter.

    “We have had positive engagement with Vietnamese officials to date, and I am confident that will continue.

    “While this process is ongoing and complex, we hope our ongoing efforts provide some assurance to the complainants that we are taking this matter seriously,” Commissioner Chambers says.

    Travel alerts are in place at the border to ensure Police are notified, and given the opportunity to take affirmative action, if the individuals of interest in this case return to New Zealand.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The XIV Siberian Tournament of Young Physicists was held at NSU

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    From January 29 to February 2, schoolchildren from the Novosibirsk Region, Moscow, Ufa, and Tyumen “fought” in team physical battles. In the Budker Large Physics Auditorium in the main building of NSU (Pirogov, 2), 22 teams that made it to the finals examined physics problems that were not typical for the school curriculum from three different angles over several days.

    TUF is a personal and team competition of senior schoolchildren in the ability to solve complex research and scientific problems, convincingly present their solutions, and defend them in scientific discussions – physical battles.

    — In Russia, the Tournament of Young Physicists has been held since 1979. The first competitions in Siberia were held in 1990. That tournament did not last long. In 2012, the Siberian Tournament of Young Physicists was held. It was held according to the same rules that we play by to this day. The tournament is absolutely open to everyone, so guests from other regions always come to us. This year, in addition to Novosibirsk and regional teams, there were teams from Moscow, Ufa and Tyumen. Mostly, high school students in grades 9-11 participate in the tournament, but there are also guys in grades 7-8 who are interested in physics in the teams, — said Mikhail Solodovnikov, President of the Public Movement “Tournament of Young Physicists”.

    For the team to participate in the tournament, the coach must submit an application and confirm that his team has solved at least 5 problems. The list of problems at SibTUF consists of 10 problems.

    The participants demonstrated a high level of preparation and professionalism in the competition, which was held according to traditional rules. The teams prepared solutions to the problems in advance, distributing roles: one group acted as a speaker, another as an opponent, and a third as a reviewer.

    The final part of the competition was a fascinating confrontation between the three strongest teams. The panel of judges included representatives of the Physics Department and other departments of Novosibirsk State University, as well as teachers of the Specialized Educational and Scientific Center of NSU.

    The winner of the final of the competition was the team “Beavers” from the Municipal Budgetary Educational Institution “Gymnasium No. 4” of the city of Novosibirsk. The second place was taken by the team “Physicon-1”, consisting of students from schools of the Iskitimsky district, including the villages of Lebedevka and Talmenka, as well as the city of Iskitim. The third place, slightly behind the leader, was taken by the team “DIO-GEN”, representing WITHspecialized educational and scientific center of NSU and other schools in the city of Novosibirsk.

    — I have been participating in “young” tournaments for the past five years. From the 7th to the 9th grade, I played in the TYuE (Young Naturalists Tournament), and from the 9th to the 11th grade, in the TYuF. This tournament was our first face-to-face appearance in such a line-up. It happens that from year to year, children in a team do not change much, but this is not our case. Therefore, during the qualifying battles, we learned how to interact with each other correctly. And I think we learned For me, this is the main result of the tournament — the team is happy, we love each other and the tournament. At the final, to be honest, everything did not go exactly according to plan right away, so even after the victory we … We were not very happy. But this will pass, and warm memories will remain) Our team is strong enough to survive this with dignity and draw the right conclusions. It will be better from now on, — shared her impressions Anastasia Litvinova, a member of the “Bobry” team.

    — Participants of the tournament of young physicists receive a lot of knowledge and skills that help them not only in their studies, but also in their future life. Naturally, the first thing is a different understanding of physics from school. Each team member faces a new type of problems for him, which do not have a clear answer. This is real research work! Teamwork. For a successful result, it is necessary to be able to competently compose work within the team. This develops a number of competencies in the child: communication, leadership, cooperation and self-confidence. The tournament is also an opportunity to see the work of a research fellow in action, to try it on yourself. After all, the path that a schoolchild goes through when solving a tournament problem is very similar to work in research institutes, — said Anastasia Kutepova, junior research fellow at ITAM SB RAS, responsible for the work of the judging teams of SibTUF, and also the coach of the DIO-GEN team.

    In addition to competencies and experience, TUF winners and prize winners receive bonuses for further education:

    – First-degree winners receive 10 points for their entrance exams to NSU.

    – 2nd and 3rd place winners receive 7 points for admission.

    – Schoolchildren in grades 8-10 receive invitations to the summer school of the NSU SUNC based on the results of the individual championship.

    According to the President of SibTUF, the tournament will not only not lose its relevance in the coming years, but, on the contrary, will gain great popularity due to the global development of technologies and interest in science. The advantage of physics is that it has a very compact, but at the same time effective apparatus of natural-scientific knowledge of nature. The apparatus that was formed in Ancient Greece, then by Newton and the classics of modern physics, remains very compressed and convenient. The number of formulas is growing, but the principles of observation, experiment, confirmation of theoretical hypotheses, creation of new theories based on experiments – all this remains, and therefore, interest in physics remains:

    — We live in a technological age, but we must not forget that the hardware of information technologies is created by physicists. If physicists do not create modern equipment, then specialists in the field of artificial intelligence, other information technologies, virtual reality technologies, simply will not be able to work. Physics continues to be the foundation of foundations and attracts even more interested people from among young people, — Mikhail Solodovnikov believes.

    As part of the tournament of young physicists, excursions for schoolchildren and their teachers were held at the Physics Department of NSU. The tournament participants visited the laboratory of molecular physics and the laboratory of physical optics, and also watched unique physical demonstrations from active physicists – master’s students of the Physics Department of NSU. The highlight of the excursions was live communication with scientists of the department – schoolchildren were able to ask questions of interest to teachers of the Physics Department.

    — Such open events with a physical focus allow children whose interests go beyond the school curriculum and computer games to develop their creative and scientific potential, express themselves, receive feedback from professionals in the physical field and visit the university they may enter in the future, — said a junior researcher at the Institute of Hydrodynamics SB RAS and a first-year master’s student Physics Department of NSU Alexander Paraskun, he conducted a demonstration of phenomena for schoolchildren.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: SH30/Wharenui Road intersection upgrade starting

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advises work begins Monday (10 February) to upgrade and install traffic lights at the intersection of State Highway 30 (SH30) Te Ngae Road and Wharenui Road.

    NZTA advises Rotorua drivers that, as part of this work, a short section of Wharenui Road, between SH30 Te Ngae Road and Reeve Road/Glenfield Road, will be closed to through-traffic.

    This closure will be in place from Monday 10 February, not Monday 3 February as earlier stated, until the project is completed in May this year.

    Access for residents, pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained. A detour will be in place for other traffic.

    Temporary footpaths and pedestrian access will be available and clearly signposted.

    Residents, service providers, and visitors will be able to take vehicles into the closed section of Wharenui Road from the Reeve/Glenfield intersection.

    All other traffic will need to use Brent Road or Coulter Road to access eastern Wharenui Road, Reeve Road and Glenfield Road, and any connected roads.

    While this work is underway a temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be in place on SH30 Te Ngae Road through the work zone.

    More information about additional traffic management will be shared as construction progresses.

    View larger map [PDF, 104 KB]

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Regional Australia’s job market: A tale of two trends

    Source: Australia Jobs and Skills

    Regional Australia’s job market: A tale of two trends

    Linda


    News and updates
    Australia’s Food Bowl now with an ‘above average’ compared to the ‘below average’ and ‘average’ ratings in December 2023.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Two charged after police seize homemade firearms, drugs

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Two charged after police seize homemade firearms, drugs

    Friday, 7 February 2025 – 1:31 pm.

    Two people have been charged after police seized two homemade firearms, drugs, and stolen property during a targeted search at Kings Meadows.
    Members of Northern Drugs and Firearms Unit executed a search warrant at the residential address on Thursday 6 February, following reports of an aggravated assault the night prior.
    A man was reportedly inside a vehicle when a person known to him approached the vehicle while in possession of a firearm.
    Nobody was physically injured and the firearm was not discharged.
    As part of their investigations, police searched the Kings Meadows residence and located and seized a loaded homemade .22 pistol fitted with a silencer, a loaded homemade .22 pen gun, ammunition, quantities of methylamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine and prescription medication as well as a motorcycle and box trailer believed to have been stolen.
    A 39 year old Youngtown man was arrested and charged with multiple firearms offences, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of property, motor vehicle stealing and minor drug offences.
    He was detained to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court today.
    A 24 year old Ravenswood woman was also arrested and charged with firearms offences, aggravated assault and minor drug offences.
    She will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court in April.
    Detective Acting Inspector Jason Jones said homemade firearms were not only illegal, but dangerous and Tasmania Police remained committed to removing them from the community.
    “We encourage anyone in possession of illegal or homemade firearms to hand them over to police. Tasmania has a permanent firearms amnesty – this allows people with unregistered, unwanted firearms to hand them in without fear of prosecution. There are no penalties associated with surrendering firearms during an amnesty regardless of how they may have come into people’s possession,” he said.
    Anyone with information about illegal or homemade firearms should  contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously by calling 1800 333 000 or online via crimestopperstas.com.au.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Murray, Sullivan, Rep. Strickland Introduce Bipartisan Flight 293 Remembrance Act—New Legislation to Provide Support, Recognition to Families of Servicemembers Missing Not In Action

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    New bipartisan legislation led by Murray would provide overdue recognition and assistance to families of servicemembers lost in non-combat military plane crashes, including those who perished in tragic 1963 Flight 293 from McChord Air Force Base to Elmendorf Air Force Base

    ICYMI from KIRO 7: 61 years after Flight 293 disappeared, podcast raises new questions and interest

    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced the Flight 293 Remembrance Act—new legislation that would provide overdue recognition and support to families of the hundreds of servicemembers whose lives have been tragically lost in non-combat military plane crashes. Companion legislation in the House has been introduced by U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland (D, WA-10), a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

    The legislation was inspired by the infamous Flight 293, which left McChord Air Force Base in Washington state on June 3rd, 1963, en route to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska with 101 people on board—58 members of the military, 22 family members and a Seattle-based flight crew of six—and disappeared two and a half hours after leaving the tarmac. As pointed out for many years by Tonja Anderson-Dell of the group Honored Bound, whose grandfather disappeared in a military crash in Alaska in 1952, the Flight 293 families—like her own family and so many others—have felt left behind and excluded.

    Since World War II, hundreds of military personnel have been classified as “Missing Not In Action” (M-NIA) following non-combat plane crashes—and unlike the families of those classified as “Missing in Action” (MIA), who receive regular updates from the Department of Defense (DoD) and invitations to remembrance events, M-NIA families have long been left unsupported and excluded from these resources. The lack of a formal recognition system for M-NIA servicemembers has resulted in these families being denied the public acknowledgment, memorials, and support services they deserve. The bipartisan Flight 293 Remembrance Act seeks to correct these disparities by ensuring that the sacrifices of M-NIA servicemembers are properly recognized, their families receive essential support, and they are included in remembrance efforts.

    “For far too long, the U.S. government has treated the families of servicemembers who went missing in non-combat plane crashes differently—denying them the communication, acknowledgement, and public support that other families of missing servicemembers receive,” said Senator Murray. “It’s long past time to fix this and at least provide federal recognition for families who lost loved ones in tragic accidents like Flight 293. Our legislation would ensure that the service of our fallen heroes is commemorated and that their families receive the recognition and assistance they deserve—I’ll be working hard to get this commonsense bipartisan solution across the finish line.”

    “Our brave men and women in uniform encounter risks to their lives when carrying out their day-to-day duties for our country, even when not in combat or in a warzone,” said Senator Sullivan. “American service members killed in these kinds of non-combat circumstances, like the tragic crash of Flight 293 in 1963, deserve to have their service and sacrifice recognized and honored by a grateful nation. I’m glad to join Senator Murray in introducing legislation to ensure all service members who’ve laid down their lives for our country are properly remembered and included in memorial activities, and to provide solace and support for the families and loved ones they left behind.”

    “This bill will help families get the recognition and assistance they need when their loved one is lost in a tragic, non-combat plane crash,” said Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (D, WA-10).

    “The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is honored to support the Flight 293 Remembrance Act and thanks Senators Murray and Sullivan for introducing this significant legislation, which seeks to recognize families of service members lost or missing from non-combat military plane crashes,” said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder. “Ensuring these families the same level of commemoration and support as the families of those Missing in Action will help provide much needed resources and closure for these surviving families, while honoring the service and sacrifice of their loved ones.” 

    Specifically, the Flight 293 Remembrance Act would mandate that the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) create a publicly accessible database documenting all non-combat military plane crashes, ensuring the preservation of the names, ranks, and service details of those who perished in these incidents. It also directs the DoD to enhance resources for families of military personnel who have been classified as “Missing Not in Action,” ensuring they are informed of available support services and connected to peer support networks. Furthermore, the bill requires the DoD to submit regular reports to Congress, evaluating the effectiveness of these efforts, gathering family feedback, and making recommendations for improving support. A one-pager with additional details on the legislation can be found HERE.

    The legislation is endorsed by the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), National Military Family Association (NMFA), and Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors (TAPS).

    The full text of the legislation can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Luján Statement on Confirmation of Project 2025 Architect to Lead Budget Office

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)

    Luján Voted Against Project 2025 Architect Who Attempted to Withhold Trillions of Dollars From Americans

    WATCH HERE: Minutes Before Confirmation Vote, Luján Highlighted Concerns from New Mexicans on OMB Nominee

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M), a member of the Senate Committee on the Budget, issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to confirm Project 2025 architect Russell Vought to serve as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB):

    “Before this vote even took place, Russell Vought was already taking a wrecking ball to the federal programs and services that New Mexicans depend on. Mr. Vought was behind President Trump’s funding freeze when the administration attempted to withhold vital funding to every community across America. Despite this, Senate Republicans voted to confirm Mr. Vought to lead the powerful Budget Office.

    “Mr. Vought wrote Project 2025, he’s implementing it, and he has the full support of the Senate Republican Conference to continue President Trump’s agenda of chaos, corruption, and confusion. I’ve heard from New Mexicans in all corners of the state who are worried and frustrated with the impacts of Mr. Vought’s leadership role. New Mexicans want a government that works for the people and that is what I am fighting for. That is why I, along with every Senate Democrat, voted against his nomination.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Blue alert as cold wave grips country

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A woman rides on a street in the strong wind in Beijing, Feb. 6, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    China’s meteorological authority renewed a blue alert for a cold wave on Thursday as freezing air is set to sweep across most parts of the country in the coming days.
    The first cold wave of the year hit central and eastern China on Thursday, sending temperatures plummeting by more than 10 C in some northern areas and bringing winds measuring 9 to 10 on the Beaufort scale, according to the China Meteorological Administration.
    The National Meteorological Center issued a blue cold wave warning, predicting temperature drops of 6 to 8 C in most areas north of the Yellow River-Huaihe River line, with some regions in eastern Northwest China, North China and the Yellow River-Huaihe River region experiencing drops of more than 10 C.
    In the south, most regions will see temperatures fall by 4 to 6 C, with some areas experiencing declines of 7 to 8 C, and others dropping by more than 10 C.
    Sun Qianqian, a meteorological analyst at the administration, said the cold air is moving southward from the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, reaching as far as South China. North China and the Yellow River-Huaihe River region are expected to see the most significant temperature drops.
    The cold wave will also bring strong winds to the north, with sustained winds of levels 4 to 6 and gusts reaching levels 7 to 8 on the scale from Thursday to Saturday. The strongest winds will be concentrated in the North China Plain on Thursday and Friday, where gusts could reach levels 8 to 9, marking the most intense wind event of the year so far, Sun said.
    The administration also issued a yellow wind warning on Thursday, predicting that from Thursday to Friday, parts of North China, central Inner Mongolia, the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, northern Shaanxi province and the Yellow River-Huaihe River region will experience northwesterly winds of levels 5 to 6, with gusts reaching levels 7 to 8.
    Some areas in central and northern Shanxi province and parts of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province will see gusts hit levels of 9 to 10, the administration said.
    Coastal areas, including the Bohai Sea, the Bohai Strait, most of the Yellow Sea, the northern East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, will also see winds reach levels 7 to 8, with gusts reaching level 9.
    Light rain was expected across much of southern China, while light to moderate snow was forecast in eastern Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang province and Jilin province, from Thursday to Friday.
    The cold wave impact is expected to ease by the weekend. Temperatures in northern China were forecast to begin rising on Saturday, with southern China following on Sunday. Temperatures should then return to normal, with increases of about 10 C. However, another cold front is expected to affect central and eastern regions around Wednesday, according to the administration.
    With recent frequent temperature fluctuations in central and eastern China, the public is advised to monitor weather changes and dress accordingly, the administration said.
    In northern regions experiencing persistent strong winds, residents should minimize outdoor activities and avoid areas that create wind tunnel effects, such as narrow spaces between buildings, where wind strength can intensify. The administration also urged people to stay clear of temporary structures and advertising boards to prevent injuries from falling objects.
    Drivers traveling at high speeds, especially in strong winds, should avoid following closely behind large, heavily loaded trucks, maintain a safe distance, reduce speed and take extra care when turning to prevent rollovers, the administration advised.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China vows to defend interests against unilateral bullying measures: commerce spokesperson

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    In the face of unilateral bullying measures, China will definitely take necessary steps to safeguard its own rights and interests, He Yongqian, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, said on Thursday.

    The U.S. unilateral imposition of additional tariffs seriously violates the rules of the World Trade Organization, which is a typical manifestation of unilateralism and trade protectionism, He told a regular press conference.

    The U.S. moves severely undermine the multilateral trading system, disrupt the stability of global industrial and supply chains, and exacerbate global trade tensions, He said.

    “China will not take the initiative to provoke trade disputes and is willing to resolve issues through dialogue and consultation,” He said, adding that China is willing to join hands with other countries to jointly address the challenges of unilateralism and trade protectionism, and safeguard the orderly and stable development of international trade.

    MIL OSI China News –