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  • MIL-OSI Security: III MEF Advances into 2025: Building on a Year of Milestones and Strengthening Regional Security

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    CAMP COURTNEY, Okinawa, Japan  –  

    As the calendar turns to 2025, the Marines, Sailors, and joint force enablers of III Marine Expeditionary Force are poised to build on the successes of 2024, a year marked by significant milestones and advancements in regional security. Through a robust series of exercises, training events, and community engagements, III MEF deepened relationships with regional partners and allies, reinforcing shared values of mutual respect, trust, and cooperation.

    “Our successes this year are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Marines, Sailors, and regional partners,” said Lt. Gen. Roger B. Turner, the III MEF commanding general. “As we look to 2025, I’m confident that we’ll continue to build on this momentum. We remain steadfast in our resolve to defend our interests, promote stability, and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

    Throughout the year, the 3d and 12th Marine Littoral Regiments continued to increase their capabilities and lethality. 3d MLR, located on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, received its first tranche of Navy/Marine Corps Ship Interdiction Systems (NMESIS) launchers and Marine Air Defense Integrated Systems (MADIS). The addition of the NMESIS to 3d MLR’s arsenal supports the unit’s ability to attack enemy maritime targets and conduct expeditionary strike missions, while the MADIS provides 3d MLR enhanced air and missile defense capability. Concurrently, Combat Logistics Battalion 12 was redesignated as the 12th Littoral Logistics Battalion, falling under the 12th MLR. The newly redesignated 12th LLB provides ground supply, medical support, general engineering, explosive ordnance disposal, and multi-modal transportation to support distributed forces in contested maritime spaces. 12th Littoral Anti-Air Battalion also activated in 2024 adding to 12th MLR’s ability to support sea control and sea denial operations within actively contested maritime spaces.

    In the Philippines, 3d MLR participated in the 39th iteration of Exercise Balikatan 24, marking the unit’s 3rd consecutive year of participation in the largest annual bilateral training exercise between the U.S. military and Armed Forces of the Philippines since 3d MLR’s redesignation from 3d Marines in 2022. Following the conclusion of Balikatan, 3d MLR remained in the Philippines to conduct the first iteration of Archipelagic Coastal Defense Continuum and Marine Aviation Support Activity 24. The 75-day deployment marked 3d MLR’s longest deployment to the Philippines since redesignation.

    During the amphibious-focused exercise Iron Fist, the 31st MEU, PHIBRON-11, the JGSDF ARDB’s 2nd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment and the JMSDF Commander Landing Ship Division 1 conducted combined planning to improve preparedness through real-world amphibious training. The three-week exercise focused on advanced marksmanship, amphibious reconnaissance, fire and maneuver assaults, bi-lateral logistics and medical support, and fire support operations; such as mortars, artillery and close-air support. Ultimately, Iron Fist honed the rapid, global expeditionary response capabilities expected of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and exemplified the spirit of trust and cooperation between the U.S. Marine Corps and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

    Throughout the Indo-Pacific region, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) served as a crisis response force, participating in operations in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, and across the region’s waters. F-35B Lightning II fighter jets provided simulated close air support during multinational exercises like SSang Yong, while MV-22B Ospreys inserted bilateral forces during Exercise Iron Fist 24. Meanwhile, ground forces from the MEU’s Maritime Raid Force and Battalion Landing Team conducted bilateral training in various environments, including jungles, beaches, waterways, and mountains in Japan and the Republic of Korea. The Combat Logistics Battalion 31, the only permanently assigned logistics battalion to an MEU worldwide, played a crucial role in supporting and sustaining the entire force. The unit’s logistics capabilities were on full display during Exercise Iron Fist 24, where military leaders from the region, as well as European partners and allies, observed beach operations following an amphibious assault training.

    Prepared to respond to crises of a larger scale, the 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) achieved significant milestones through its campaign of learning and experimentation with Expeditionary Strike Group SEVEN as Task Force 76/3. The brigade synchronized efforts with the integrated naval headquarters staff to ensure access to key maritime terrain and reinforce Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet’s rapid response capabilities. 3d MEB serves as III MEF’s Alert Contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force, a scalable humanitarian assistance-disaster relief headquarters ready to respond within hours to emerging crises.

    As a capstone exercise in Japan, Resolute Dragon 24, which spanned from Iwakuni to Yonaguni, served as the operational debut of the 12th MLR and showcased the deployment of one of III MEF’s TPS-80 radar systems to Yonaguni. Flown to Yonaguni by a Japan Air Self-Defense Force C-2 aircraft, the TPS-80 radar system provided advanced sensing and targeting capability to enhance situational awareness for the joint force, further enabling the monitoring and acquisition of targets throughout the region. At Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, home to Marine Air Group 12 and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force’s Fleet Air Wing 31, U.S. and Japanese V-22 Osprey aircraft conducted bilateral flight operations, demonstrating both the capabilities of the platform and the ability of the JGSDF and USMC to fly coordinated missions in support of ground forces.

    In the Republic of Korea, more than 3,000 U.S. Marines from across III MEF, and 1st Marine Division, I MEF, completed exercises Freedom Shield 24 and Warrior Shield 24, demonstrating the U.S and ROK Marine Corps’ ability to integrate and operate in support of the alliance. During Freedom Shield 24, the Combined Marine Component Command rehearsed their combined, force wide command-and-control capabilities in response to a simulated crisis. While in the Republic of Korea, U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 9th Engineer Support Battalion completed the construction of Choctaw Road at Rodriguez Live-Fire Complex, facilitating the safe and efficient transport of tactical military vehicles and ensuring direct access to live-fire ranges. This project was the result of coordinated efforts across multiple units, including ROK Marines and U.S. Soldiers from the 11th Engineer Battalion.

    Continuing to build on the U.S.-ROK partnership, Exercise Ssang Yong saw III MEF, 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, and 31st MEU forces operating alongside ROK Navy and Marine Corps units, demonstrating amphibious landing capabilities and highlighting the strength of the U.S.-ROK Alliance. The exercise involved division-level Marine Corps landing forces, ROK Navy large transport ships, and over 40 aircraft, including U.S. F-35B Lightning II fighter jets and ROK amphibious mobile helicopters.

    Back in Japan, III MEF also participated in Exercise Keen Sword 25, a biennial exercise that fosters realistic training and allows leaders to validate and test command relationships and operational control of forces. The exercise included both field training and command post elements, with forces from 3d MEB establishing a bilateral coordination center alongside Western Army partners in Kumamoto. This critical bilateral node showcased the ability to for U.S. and Japanese forces to coordinate operations within a shared battlespace, and unified against a common threat.

    In addition to these exercises, III MEF contributed to the largest ever iteration of Exercise Yama Sakura 87, a trilateral exercise involving the U.S. Army, Australian Defence Force, and Japan Ground Self Defense Force. The exercise spanned three nations, six locations, and over 7,000 service members, demonstrating the value of the Marine Corps’ permanent presence in Japan and the seamless integration of U.S. and Japanese forces.

    Beyond these major exercises, III MEF engaged in various community-based initiatives, including training students at the Thailand Mine Action Center to develop an explosive ordnance disposal capacity. This partnership aligns with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Humanitarian Mine Action Program, which assists partnered nations affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war. 5th Air/Naval Gunfire Liaison Company integrated with the JGSDF Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, making history in the establishing of the JGSDF’s first Joint Terminal Attack Controller Instructor and Evaluator. Throughout the year, 5th ANGLICO Marines trained several Joint Tactical Air Controllers, increasing the ARDB’s capabilities and effectiveness.

    Twice during the year, III MEF flew KC-130Js from Okinawa to the Philippines to contribute to disaster relief operations following natural disasters in Mindanao and Luzon. III MEF forces transported tens of thousands of food packs alongside other critical aid items in support of the U.S. Agency for International Development. In Japan, Marines and sailors conducted humanitarian aid/disaster response training in Ishigaki City, building relationships in the Sakishima Islands and demonstrating capabilities to respond rapidly to natural disasters.

    III MEF also tested new capabilities in 2024, with the introduction of the Autonomous Low-Profile Vessel (ALPV) and Stern Landing Vessel. Marines across the MEF conducted trial operations with the ALPV in open water, simulating covert logistical resupply, and demonstrated the ability to resupply a dispersed lethal fighting force in contested maritime terrain. III MEF also participated in various resilient joint kill web experimentation events in support of the joint force, through the use of the Joint Fires Network and Maven Smart System capabilities.

    As III MEF looks to 2025, the force will continue to build on the successes of previous years, with a focus on increasing interoperability with partners and allies across the Indo-Pacific. On the horizon are continued training opportunities in Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines and the Kingdom of Thailand. During Exercise Pacific Sentry, 3d Marine Division will undergo certification as a Joint Task Force, providing Indo-Pacific Command with another certified JTF for employment in support of regional security. 12th MLR will add their third and final subordinate element, 12th Littoral Combat Team, to enhance precision, lethality, and littoral maneuverability. 3d MLR will undergo a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation (MCCRE) prior to the unit’s deployment to the Philippines in support of Exercises Balikatan 25 and Kamandag 9. A series of full-scale rapid mobilization events will ensure that forces from III MEF are ready to swiftly deploy from locations in Okinawa to distributed locations across the region in support of sea denial operations and reinforcing regional partners and allies. With its commitment to regional stability and security, III MEF remains a vital component of the U.S. military’s presence in the Indo-Pacific, poised to address the challenges of a rapidly changing security environment.

    Please direct questions to IIIMEFMedia@usmc.mil.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Here’s what ‘deep listening’ can tell us about the natural world and our place in it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Monty Nixon, PhD Student in Education, University of Canberra

    Jakub Maculewicz, Shutterstock

    Have you ever taken the time to stop and listen to nature? Deeply, quietly and patiently?

    If not, don’t worry, there’s still time to learn. Deep listening is a skill that can be developed.

    There’s much more to it than simply recognising the call or song of a particular species. To listen deeply to nature is to become aware of behaviours, relationships and patterns of interaction between multiple species, and to learn from what we hear.

    This is what Indigenous people have been doing for many thousands of years, in Australia and overseas.

    Under the supervision and guidance of Indigenous knowledge holders of Karulkiyalu Country, my PhD research, explores ways to embed this Indigenous approach to deep listening in Australia’s education system.

    The project builds on previous work showing positive results for student and teacher wellbeing, as well as an increased understanding of and desire to care for the natural world.

    The Rufous whistler is an Australian virtuoso.
    Andrew Skeoch

    What is deep listening?

    If you’d like to try deep listening, take some time to visit a natural place and find a quiet spot where you won’t be disturbed. Turn off your electronic devices.

    Close your eyes, and extend your sense of hearing into the landscape around you. Try focusing your listening in each direction, then above and even below. How far you can hear?

    At first you will hear the voices of individual creatures, perhaps one then another. After a while, you may begin to notice interactions and patterns of communication between them. Be curious. Does one respond to another? How, and why?

    Hearing all the interconnected activity going on around you in that moment can help you comprehend the living system as a whole.

    Acoustic ecologist Andrew Skeoch recording the sounds of nature in the Australian bush.
    Andrew Skeoch

    What can we learn from nature by listening?

    People often simplify complex relationships down to perceptions of either cooperation or competition.

    But listening to nature affirms that cooperative partnerships play a far greater role than meets the eye. Relationships between species that accommodate each other’s needs are ubiquitous throughout the biosphere.

    For instance, multiple species of birds forage efficiently and safely in mixed flocks, by communicating and alerting each other to information about food and threats. This practice of foraging collectively is so worthwhile it’s encountered the world over.

    Listening to the animated twittering of these flocks – which continually communicates and affirms each bird’s location – reminds us how beneficial cooperation can be. More importantly, cooperation is most advantageous when it embraces diversity.

    Addressing the existential threats facing humanity will require cooperation and collaboration on a massive scale. Many of these threats are interlinked. They tend to resist independent solutions and need to be tackled together.

    So there is an urgent need to embrace and celebrate our differences. Listening to mixed-species flocks reminds us that diversity can be a source of great strength.

    Lessons about competition

    Listening can also tell us about competitive interactions, particularly between members of the same species.

    In the morning twilight of the breeding season, songbirds join the dawn chorus – singing with repertoire and behaviours not heard at other times of day or year. It’s also clear they are listening to each other.

    At dawn, songbirds use formal vocal interactions to negotiate their most essential relationships. These include defining home ranges, establishing and maintaining pair bonds, acknowledging neighbours and affirming community identities.

    In this way, the dawn chorus is a sonic expression of a widespread principle in nature: that while the potential for competition exists, life-threatening aggression is risky, inefficient and costly.

    Many animals have developed specialised behaviours to sort out their relationships and status while minimising the risks of serious harm. For instance “boxing” kangaroos engage in scrapping or sparring rather than injurious fighting.

    While these physical behaviours are found widely throughout the animal world, songbirds have evolved their own trick: they use song to negotiate their interactions. Listening to them singing at dawn reminds us that competitive behaviours and aggression are not advantageous. Negotiation, mutual acknowledgement and respect are more successful ways of living.

    Boxing kangaroos negotiate their status without causing injury.
    victoriam, Shutterstock

    Educational possibilities from listening

    Learning through deep listening was integral to the education system in Australia for thousands of years. It allowed First Nations peoples to understand the ecological community around them and how to live with these groups of species.

    In this education system, Country and Earth-Kin, (such as plants and animals) were both central knowledge holders and teachers. Humans (primarily grandparents) provided support for childrens’ learning from these knowledge holders. In this way children came to know, understand and care for land.

    People and Country flourished through this way of learning. Australia became home to the longest continuing cultures in human history.

    Research is demonstrating how this old teaching and learning method can work in modern schooling. More than 120 educators across the ACT are involved in the Country as Teacher project. Cultivating a practice of deep listening to Earth-Kin and Country helped teachers and students develop an improved sense of wellbeing, as well as knowledge and understanding of the places they live.

    The research argues that teachers first need to cultivate their own practice of listening. Then they can embed this process in their approach to education. By slowing down, developing nuanced awareness, following curiosity, listening empathically to other beings and opening to being affected emotionally, teachers can cultivate their own deeper sense of care, appreciation and understanding. From their personal listening journey, educators can then facilitate these experiences for their students.

    Deep listening to Earth-Kin or Country as Teacher offers an old and new pathway to return to a valuable and important way of being for our schools and society.

    This path offers us the chance to come to appreciate and care for the ecological communities of the Earth. Through listening we can learn the ways in which species across the Earth adapt, survive and thrive, providing guidance for our own cultures as we confront increasing social and environmental uncertainty.

    This article was written in collaboration with acoustic ecologist Andrew Skeoch.

    Monty Nixon receives funding from The ACT Affiliated Schools Network.

    – ref. Here’s what ‘deep listening’ can tell us about the natural world and our place in it – https://theconversation.com/heres-what-deep-listening-can-tell-us-about-the-natural-world-and-our-place-in-it-235868

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How the AFL and NRL have crept into cricket’s traditional summer timeslot

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vaughan Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania

    Most of Australia has four seasons each year.

    However, when it comes to sport, the Australian calendar has long been dominated by two seasons: cricket and football.

    Traditionally, cricket has been played from October to March when the weather is suitable, and Australian rules football and rugby league from April to September.

    But in recent years, a lack of international cricket in Australia after January – coupled with earlier start dates for the AFL and NRL seasons – has resulted in football receiving more local media coverage and attention from fans during the summer.

    For many Australian cricket fans, the season will be finished once the Big Bash League and women’s Ashes conclude in early February.

    In February and March, the Australian men’s and women’s cricket teams will play matches overseas and the Australian states will play each other in one-day and four-day games.

    However, the reduced media attention and free-to-air TV coverage of cricket in Australia means many sports fans turn their attention to other sports, usually football or rugby league.

    But has this always been the case?



    Read more:
    How is the Big Bash League faring after 14 years of ups and downs – and what’s next?

    Football seasons are getting longer

    Cricket has been played in Australia for more than 200 years. While Australian rules football was initially developed to keep cricketers fit through the winter, football competitions such as the AFL and NRL have now arguably become more dominant across the sporting calendar.

    The 2024 AFL season was the longest in the sport’s history. The 2025 season will be exactly the same length, stretching nearly seven months, from March 6 to September 27.

    The 2025 NRL season will be even longer. It starts in Las Vegas on March 2 and doesn’t finish until the Grand Final on October 5.

    The 2025 AFLW and NRLW seasons will also be the longest ever, finishing as late as November 30.

    Football seasons are starting earlier

    While an AFL Grand Final in late September and an NRL Grand Final leading into NSW’s Labour Day in early October are well established, the start of the season has been slowly creeping forward over the decades.

    Twenty years ago, the AFL season started in late March, 50 years ago it was early April, and 80 years ago it was late April. The first AFL (VFL) season in 1897 started on May 8.

    The start of the NRL season has also moved forward over time. The first NRL (NSWRL) season in 1908 started on April 20.

    While these historical season start dates did not overlap with the cricket season, that is no longer the case.

    This year, the AFL and NRL will have completed three premiership rounds before the Sheffield Shield final ends the Australian domestic cricket season in late March.

    And then there are the AFL and NRL pre-season competitions, with games starting as early as February 7.

    Why are football seasons getting longer?

    Some of the factors that have contributed to extensions of football seasons include:

    • the introduction of more teams that all need to play each other
    • revenue opportunities for broadcasters, venues and clubs, and
    • additional mid-season byes and rest periods.

    AFL and NRL players have cited fatigue because of the long seasons. Consequently, some players’ associations and coaches have advocated for shorter seasons.

    However, playing fewer games would likely mean less money for the AFL and NRL, and for players and clubs.

    Adding more teams to the AFL and NRL and extending the AFLW and NRLW seasons may allow for more flexibility with future season lengths, as football codes can be played any time of year.

    Unless your stadium has an expensive roof, cricket cannot because of the threat of rain.

    What does this mean for cricket?

    While Australians can still play both cricket and football at junior and community levels, this is no longer possible at representative levels because of the overlap between seasons.

    The encroachment of football into traditional cricket months means increased competition for players, often forcing talented young athletes to make a decision about which sport to pursue.

    Greater perceived opportunities to play at the elite level may convince some players to prioritise football.

    For example, the six Australian state cricket teams generally contract 20 to 25 players each season. In comparison, the 17 NRL teams each have 30 contracted players and the 18 AFL clubs can have 44 players in their squads.

    Current AFL players such as Stephen Coniglio, Caleb Serong and Brent Daniels all represented their state in underage cricket before choosing football. Manly lock Nathan Brown and retired star Braith Anasta are NRL examples.

    Luckily for cricket, current players such as Alex Carey (GWS under-18 captain 2010), Mitch Marsh (under-18 WA AFL team 2008) and Will Sutherland (under-18 Victorian Metro AFL team 2017) are examples of young players choosing cricket after successful underage football careers.

    Venue availability and scheduling conflicts

    The extended football seasons pose logistical challenges for venues. Iconic stadiums such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) traditionally host both cricket and football matches and now face increased scheduling pressure with the seasons overlapping.

    For instance, in 2024, the MCG only had a 22-day turnaround between hosting the AFL Grand Final and the Victoria vs NSW Sheffield Shield match.

    Hosting concerts at these venues increases revenue but also adds to scheduling difficulties.

    It all adds up to a difficult juggling act for venues, which will be made even trickier if the football codes creep even further into the traditional cricket season.

    Cricket, too, has a battle on its hands to stay relevant to fans, broadcasters, commercial partners and even participants as the AFL and NRL seasons continue to expand.

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

    – ref. How the AFL and NRL have crept into cricket’s traditional summer timeslot – https://theconversation.com/how-the-afl-and-nrl-have-crept-into-crickets-traditional-summer-timeslot-247330

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: David Seymour says Kiwis are too squeamish about privatisation – history shows why they lost the appetite

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

    Getty Images

    State asset sales have been a political dividing line in New Zealand for decades now, and it seems voters are again being asked to decide which side they’re on.

    In his state-of-the-nation speech last week, ACT Party leader David Seymour advised New Zealanders to “get past their squeamishness about privatisation” and ask themselves:

    If we want to be a first world country, then are we making the best use of the government’s half-a-trillion-dollars–plus worth of assets? If something isn’t getting a return, the government should sell it so we can afford to buy something that does.

    No doubt this appealed to ACT’s core constituency. But the available evidence suggests many New Zealanders view the privatisation of state assets with scepticism, not squeamishness.

    The most rigorous available data are from the New Zealand Election Study: just under 50% of those surveyed in 2020 either “somewhat” or “strongly” agreed with the proposition that “privatisation has gone too far”.

    Just over 9% either somewhat or strongly disagreed with that statement. In other words, those who oppose state asset sales comfortably outnumber those who support them.

    It seems reasonable to suggest this reflects the sizeable proportion of New Zealanders who remember the asset sales experience of the 1980s and 1990s under both Labour and National governments.

    Writing in 2000, during the heights of this bipartisan privatisation boom, economic analyst Brian Gaynor argued:

    By selling 100 per cent shareholdings in state assets, the New Zealand Government has allowed a small group of investors, mainly offshore, to make enormous profits. With just a little foresight these profits could have been kept for the benefit of domestic investors and taxpayers.

    At the same time, voters have watched levels of wealth inequality rise, and the transfer of public wealth into private hands. And while asset sales can improve efficiency, they can also reduce access to services for those on limited incomes or experiencing higher unemployment.

    Market failure

    Research has shown a clear majority of New Zealanders would prefer the government provides social services, especially in health and education.

    Just over 80% of New Zealanders trust the public service based on their own experiences. And levels of trust in the public service outstrip those in the private sector. All this suggests there is little appetite for a return to the days of peak privatisation.

    More broadly, some New Zealanders will also question Seymour’s assertion that state assets should provide a return on investment.

    Aside from it not being possible to turn a profit on many of the assets a government needs to serve the needs of its citizens, there are costs associated with putting a market value on certain social goods and services.

    As Harvard political philosopher Michael Sandel has argued:

    [W]hen money comes increasingly to govern access to the essentials of the good life – decent health care, access to the best education, political voice and influence in campaigns – when money comes to govern all of those things, inequality matters a great deal.

    Furthermore, there is ample evidence of the ethical and operational shortcomings of applying the profit motive to public institutions such as prisons, hospitals and schools.

    Nor are markets themselves value-free, self-correcting mechanisms. In the material economy, they have a propensity to fail. When they do, the people who suffer most tend to be those least well positioned to defend themselves.

    That is why the state performs certain functions: to make sure those unable to pay for privately provided goods and services are not denied them.

    The nature and extent of what the state should provide is quite properly a matter for debate. But those decisions affect everyone and should be decided in the public domain, not left to the managers and owners of private companies.

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon: open to a conversation about priviatisation.
    Getty Images

    Public versus private debt

    Seymour also suggested a return to asset sales was justified by the country’s current levels of public debt. He referred to “the other tribe” who are

    building a majority for mediocrity – who would love nothing more than to go into lockdown again, make some more sourdough, and worry about the billions in debt another day.

    But as the right-leaning Maxim Institute points out,

    the real risk in New Zealand is our very high levels of private debt, which includes household debt like mortgages, student loans, credit card, hire purchases, to buying a car in instalments […] Compared to our relatively low levels of public debt our current household debt stands at 95% of GDP.

    According to the Treasury, current public debt levels are “prudent”, although “an ageing population, climate change and historical trends mean governments have important choices to make”.

    The risk of renewed asset sales and privatisation is that public debt might be reduced but at the expense of private debt increasing.

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has responded by saying he was open to a conversation about selling state assets. While it was “not something on our agenda right now”, he said, he hinted National may campaign on it ahead of next year’s election.

    His other coalition partner, NZ First, has a long-held antipathy to selling local assets to offshore owners. And Luxon may also remember the result of the non-binding citizens-initiated referendum in 2013, when 67.3% opposed the potential sale of the state’s energy companies.

    A niche party such as ACT can safely take policy positions that have little appeal beyond its core supporters. But that’s not a luxury available to its major coalition partner, which started the year behind in the polls.

    On the other hand, National does not want to be outflanked any further by ACT. Asset sales, it seems, are destined to remain a perennial political fault line.

    Richard Shaw 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. David Seymour says Kiwis are too squeamish about privatisation – history shows why they lost the appetite – https://theconversation.com/david-seymour-says-kiwis-are-too-squeamish-about-privatisation-history-shows-why-they-lost-the-appetite-248308

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Senate Passes Rosen, Lankford, Booker, Cramer Resolution Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    The Bipartisan Resolution Also Commemorates International Holocaust Remembrance Day
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), James Lankford (R-OK), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced that the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan resolution commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in Nazi-occupied Poland and marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The resolution calls for the remembrance of the millions of innocent victims of the Nazi reign of terror, honors the legacy of the survivors of the Holocaust, and recommits to combatting all forms of antisemitism.
    “Today marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, when thousands of lives were saved, and the world was finally exposed to the horrors behind those walls,” said Senator Rosen. “The U.S. Senate passed this bipartisan resolution to recognize the six million Jews and millions of others who were brutally murdered by Nazis during one of the darkest chapters in human history. At a time when antisemitism and Holocaust denial are on the rise around the world, it has never been more important to remind the world of the atrocities committed by rampant anti-Jew hate and discrimination. By remembering the past, we can ensure Never Again truly means never again.”
    “Eighty years ago today, good triumphed over the evil of the Holocaust as Allied Forces liberated Auschwitz,” said Senator Cramer. “We will never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust. In the wake of an alarming uptick in anti-semitism, we remember the murder of millions of Jews on this solemn day.”
    The full text of the resolution can be read HERE.
    Senator Rosen has been a leader in the fight to combat antisemitism and Holocaust denial and distortion. Last year, her bipartisan legislation with Senator Cramer to reauthorize the Never Again Education Act became law. She helped launch the first-ever Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism with Senator Lankford and led the push to create the first-ever national strategy to counter antisemitism. In 2023, Senator Rosen helped introduce a bipartisan resolution denouncing antisemitism at institutions of higher education, which passed the Senate unanimously. The following year, Senator Rosen hosted a roundtable discussion with students from across the country to discuss campus antisemitism.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Graham Votes to Confirm Bessent as Treasury Secretary

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed South Carolina native Scott Bessent as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Treasury.

    Bessent grew up in Little River. He is the founder and CEO of Key Square Group and has been in the financial services business for over 35 years. Graham praised President Trump for nominating Bessent for the post and introduced him at his nomination hearing before the Senate Finance Committee.

    “It’s a very big day for South Carolina and our nation,” said Senator Graham. “Scott Bessent received strong bipartisan support to be the next Treasury Secretary. He will hit the ground running in support of President Trump’s America First Agenda. Scott is a great combination of academic excellence and real-world experience. It’s a long way to go from Little River to Secretary of the Treasury, and he has more than earned this prestigious position. Congratulations to Scott and his family as he begins this new, important journey.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 01.27.2025 Sens. Cruz, Budd, Colleagues Introduce POLICE Act to Designate Assaulting a Law Enforcement Officer as a Deportable Offense

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) in introducing the Protect Our Law Enforcement with Immigration Control and Enforcement (POLICE) Act of 2025. The POLICE Act would strengthen federal law by explicitly designating the assault of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responders as a deportable offense.
    Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said, “When illegal aliens commit violent crimes against a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or first responder, they must be held fully accountable and be swiftly deported. I am proud to join Senator Budd and my colleagues in introducing commonsense legislation to ensure that this becomes law.
    The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.).
    Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.-02) introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
    Read the POLICE Act here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Fischer Joins FOX Report to Discuss President’s Cabinet Nominees and Nuclear Deterrence

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) joined FOX Report with Jon Scott. She discussed the confirmation of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and emphasized the importance of strengthening America’s nuclear deterrent. Senator Fischer also celebrated the recent confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense and former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security.

    During the interview, Senator Fischer highlighted the dangers posed by Democrats’ slow confirmation of Cabinet nominees, particularly those related to national security.

    Click the image above to watch a video of Sen. Fischer’s remarks

    Click here to download audio

    Click here to download video


    On Pete Hegseth’s Confirmation:  

    Jon Scott:     Nebraska Senator Deb Fisher, a member of the Armed Services Committee, the Appropriations and Commerce Committees as well. So, you’re going to be a very busy Senator in this upcoming term, Senator Fischer.

    First of all, let’s talk about the Hegseth nomination. He was even described by the Vice President as 90% dead early in the confirmation process, but he squeaked across the line with a tie-breaking vote by the Vice President. Give us your assessment. 

    Senator Fischer: Well, obviously the Secretary of Defense is an extremely important position in any administration. You know, this is one that should have been filled right away, and instead, the Democrats were doing a smear campaign trying to delay it as much as possible. 

    So, I was really, really happy that we were able to get Pete across the line last night. I was honored to attend his swearing-in earlier this morning at the Executive Office Building where he had his family, and a number of us from the Armed Services Committee were there for that. He’s going to do a great job. He showed that during his hearing. He had a good, solid hearing. I’ve had numerous conversations with him. I reviewed the materials that were out there. And this is the guy for the job who’s going to take care of our warriors. And he’s going to work to provide them with the resources they need so they can complete the missions they’re given.

    On Preparing America’s Warfighters: 

    Jon Scott: Well, it’s going to be his job to reform the Pentagon, but obviously you and the Senate, on the Armed Services Committee, are going to have a big voice in that. What do you see as the reforms that this Pentagon needs?

    Senator Fischer: Well, you know, we’ve had a number of discussions on that. The new Secretary has been very open about what he’s looking at. We have to look at recruitment and retention in our all-volunteer force. We have to make sure that we take care of the warfighters, that we have their backs. We need to train them so they have the proper readiness and training and can take on any situation. We need to make sure that we have a strong deterrent so that we don’t always have to send our military men and women into harm’s way. 

    Those are all things that the new Secretary has talked about. We’ve talked about working with him on that to be able to get those things done. You know, on Armed Services, I’m starting my 13th year on Armed Services Committee. Many of these issues come up over and over again. And I am hopeful that we have the commitment from the Secretary, we have the enthusiasm, we have the dedication to our warfighters from this man to get this done.

    On Returning to Peace Through Strength:

    Jon Scott:     Peace through strength, is a mantra that President Trump and Pete Hegseth have repeated over and over again. They want a military that is lethal and ready to move, but lethal enough that it’s going to deter our enemies. Do you see that happening? I mean, do you see us in that situation, early in the Trump term?

    Senator Fischer:     You know, I’m really excited that the President and the new Secretary have embraced that Reagan term. You know, peace through strength. The Secretary and I, we talked about the priority for our nuclear deterrent, our nuclear triad, that is the bedrock of our entire national security. 

    It’s for ourselves, but also for our allies. They depend upon our nuclear umbrella as well. So, we’re going through a modernization program of all three legs of that triad. And in my conversations with the Secretary, we have really, really focused on the need to stay up on schedule, on all three of those legs. And make sure we have not just the weapons needed, but that those platforms are all ready to go too. We cannot afford to fall behind on this. That is true deterrence, and it’s deterrence to be able to show the strength, to show the commitment. And I think we have this administration now that has stepped up, and they are going to do that.

    On the Dangers posed by Democrats’ Slow Confirmation of Cabinet Nominees: 

    Jon Scott: Former South Dakota Governor Christie Noem has been voted, confirmed to be Homeland Security Secretary. She may be taking the oath of office any minute now, and if she does, we’ll take our viewers there live, but give us your take on the pace of these confirmations.

    Senator Fischer:     Well, they’re slow, you know, this is really disappointing, but it’s also very dangerous that the Democrats are slow walking these nominations, especially these nominations that deal with our national security. 

    Secretary Noem when she is sworn in in a little bit, my neighbor to the north there is Governor Noem in South Dakota. She also is ready to start from day one. She’s going to be there, working with our border patrol, our other folks there on the southern border especially. And we’ve seen President Trump with his executive orders, step up right away, whether it’s with border chaos, whether it’s dealing with inflation prices out there, whether it’s dealing with our energy security, whether it’s dealing with our total national security package. So, we’re excited that she’s going to be sworn in here shortly.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin, Bipartisan Group of Colleagues Introduce Bill to Boost Transparency in Prescription Drug Advertisements

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin

    WISCONSIN – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and a bipartisan group of colleagues introduced the Drug-price Transparency for Consumers Act, a bill that would require price disclosures on advertisements for prescription drugs to empower patients and reduce Americans’ colossal spending on medications.

    “Big drug companies spend billions of dollars on advertising, and it takes patients paying high prices to pay for it. These ads often push patients to the most expensive drugs, not the most effective ones, and patients deserve some transparency,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am proud to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to shed light on Big Pharma’s tricks to gouge Wisconsinites and help lower costs.”

    The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that prescription drugs advertised directly to consumers accounted for 58 percent of Medicare’s spending on drugs between 2016 and 2018, while a 2023 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that two-thirds of advertised drugs offered “low therapeutic value.” By requiring direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements for prescription drugs to include a disclosure of the list price, patients can make informed choices when inundated with drug commercials and pharmaceutical companies may reconsider their pricing and advertising tactics. In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has sued to keep the prices of their drugs out of their TV advertisements.

    Each year, the pharmaceutical industry spends $6 billion in DTC drug advertising to fill the airwaves with ads, resulting in the average American seeing nine DTC ads each day. Studies show that these activities steer patients to more expensive drugs, even when a patient may not need the medication or a lower-cost generic is available. Studies show that patients are more likely to ask their doctor, and ultimately receive a prescription, for a specific drug when they have seen ads for it.  For these reasons, most countries have banned DTC prescription drug advertising—the United States and New Zealand are the only industrialized nations to permit this practice.

    Additionally, a Kaiser survey found that 88 percent of Americans support this price disclosure policy for advertisements.

    Below are some key findings from the GAO report:

    • Two-thirds of pharma’s spending between 2016 and 2018 on DTC ads ($12 billion out of $18 billion total) was concentrated on just 39 drugs.  During this period, these advertised drugs accounted for 58 percent of Medicare’s spending on drugs ($320 billion out of $560 billion). 
    • In 2019, Humira had $500 million in DTC advertising, contributing to $2.4 billion in Medicare costs.
    • Among the top 10 drugs with the highest cost to Medicare, four were also in the top 10 for advertising spending (Humira, Eliquis, Keytruda, Lyrica).        

    This legislation is also co-sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D–IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Angus King (I-ME), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).

    The legislation is endorsed by AARP, American Academy of Neurology, American College of Physicians, Patients for Affordable Drugs Now and Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Proud to Confirm Bessent as Treasury Secretary

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement today regarding the confirmation of Scott Bessent as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury:

    “The American people voted resoundingly to return to commonsense, pro-growth policies after four years of reckless spending and runaway inflation under the Biden Administration. Scott Bessent’s sharp financial foresight and private sector expertise will be immediate assets to the President as his Administration gets to work on urgent tax reform and widespread regulatory relief. Secretary Bessent is the right choice to get our fiscal house back in order, and I look forward to working with him in the years ahead.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release: Fatal crash Hei Hei Road

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police can now release the name of the person who died following a crash on Hei Hei Road, Christchurch on Saturday 25 January.

    He was 35-year-old Liam Michael Ryan-Morris of Hornby.

    Police extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of those involved.

    Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: ChildFund – Make the Case for Aid or Have It taken away

    Source: ChildFund New Zealand

    President Trump has issued an immediate stop-work order for all USA funded aid projects to align aid budgets with his foreign policy agenda.
    This will cause chaos and suffering across the world, and will impact on some ChildFund New Zealand programmes and partners, says CEO of ChildFund NZ, Josie Pagani.
    “It isn’t just USA aid programmes that are impacted – it’s any charity or donor who is working on a joint project with USA funding.”
    ChildFund New Zealand is working with its ChildFund partner in America, to support food security and clean water projects in places like Kenya and Sri Lanka.
    “With our USA partner we know we reach about 15,000 people in the vulnerable district of Batticaloa in Sri Lanka with nutritious food by supporting small-holder farmers. We know that we get clean water and good food to thousands of people who otherwise would not have it in countries like Kenya. We also know that 10,000 children in Sri Lanka are getting access to education through digital hubs, as well as thousands of children in Zambia, who otherwise would not have access to education.”
    “All of that is at risk with this stop-work order.”
    “We have been told that all US Aid funded projects have three months to evaluate each program based on three criteria:
    • Does the action make America safe?
    • Does it make America stronger?
    • Does it make America more prosperous?
    “We welcome challenges about the effectiveness of aid. We should always hold ourselves accountable for success or failure when it comes to saving and improving the lives of people in some of the most vulnerable, war-torn or poorest places in the world.
    New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters is in the process of reviewing New Zealand’s aid, and we welcome the review.
    “But President Trump and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio are asking the wrong questions.”
    “Aid is not there to make the donor countries rich or prosperous. There are better ways to do that.
    The Focus of aid is to save lives, to lift children and communities out of extreme poverty, to stop people dying of preventable diseases, and to make sure every child and person has access to clean water and nutritious food, wherever they live.
    Reducing the acute suffering of many millions of people reduces the likelihood of war, terrorism and political destabilisation. There is no doubt that effective aid programmes make us all safer.
    The questions President Trump’s administration should be asking are:
    • Are we making a difference with aid?
    • Are local communities and institutions strong enough to continue the work after we leave?
    • Are we helping to make the poorest places less dependent on aid, and ultimately more prosperous?
    “At ChildFund New Zealand that is the standard by which we measure our work. We ask ourselves these questions all the time. If the answer is no, we adapt, change what we’re doing and sometimes stop.”
    “If we are achieving those goals, to answer President Trump’s questions, we can say ‘yes, we are helping to make New Zealand and our Pacific region a safer and stronger place’,” says Josie Pagani.
    These are tough times and funding from all sources is at risk. Please help us continue the life-saving work we do by donating here: https://childfund.org.nz/?form=FUNFFXFVGBY

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 21-2025: Scheduled Outage: Friday 31 January 2025 – AAMP

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    28 January 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    Approved arrangements operators who will be required to view and/or update details of their Approved Arrangement via the Approved Arrangement Management Product (AAMP).

    Information

    Due to scheduled system maintenance, AAMP will be unavailable between 20:00 to 23:30 Friday 31 January 2025 (AEDT).

    Action

    Clients are advised to await the completion of this maintenance period before attempting to access this…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Clayton man faces unlicensed car trading charges

    Source: Government of Victoria 2

    A man who allegedly traded in more than 80 cars over a 2-year period has been charged with unlicensed motor car trading. 

    We’re alleging that Zequn Wang, 31, bought or sold 84 cars between January 2022 and September 2023. 

    In Victoria, anyone who buys, sells or exchanges more than 4 vehicles in a 12-month period is required to hold a motor car trader licence. 

    Buying from a licensed motor car trader gives you more protections, including:

    • a cooling-off period – time to change your mind

    • clear title to the car – a guarantee it’s not listed as stolen, a write-off or still having money owed on it

    Even after the relevant statutory warranty expires, consumers still have rights under the Australian Consumer Law. 

    Anyone found guilty of buying, selling or trading vehicles without a licence can face penalties of over $19,000 per transaction. The court can also make a defendant pay up to 15% of the price of each vehicle.

    The matter is listed for a hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 3 February.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. and Allied Forces Conduct La Perouse 2025

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    INDIAN OCEAN  –  

    La Perouse is a biennial, multilateral exercise demonstrating a shared commitment to enhance regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    This exercise is designed to advance maritime security in the region through maritime surveillance, interdiction, and air operations through progressive training and information sharing.

    This exercise provided an opportunity for U.S. and allied and partner navies, who have shared values, fulfill maritime integration training objectives by emphasizing collaboration, warfighting, and readiness in a dynamic theater, resulting in enhanced maritime security and continued deterrence.

    “USS Savannah’s opportunity to operate with our foreign partners this week was exciting. The French and American navies have shared priorities and an enduring mission in the Indo-Pacific,” said Capt. Matt Scarlett, commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7. “Our ability to conduct consistent bilateral operations, conduct information sharing, and participate in realistic scenarios at sea, increases our interoperability as a joint force and ensures sustained maritime security in the region.”

    Named after an 18th-century French naval officer and explorer, La Perouse reflects longstanding values and a shared commitment to maritime security with like-minded nations.

    The French Navy Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group is represented by their aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R91). Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group is operating in the Indo-Pacific as part of their Clemenceau 25 deployment.

    “We welcome the opportunity to operate alongside the French navy, our friend and longtime ally, out here in the Indo-Pacific,” said Vice Adm. Fred Kacher, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. “Their exercise La Perouse underscores the value our European allies place on this critical maritime region, and we look forward to advancing interoperability at sea between our forces.”

    Additional participating units included Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart Class guided missile destroyers HMAS Hobart (DDG 39); Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341); the Indian Navy’s Delhi-class guided-missile destroyers INS Mumbai (D 62); Royal Malaysian Navy’s Lekiu-class guided missile frigate FFG Lekir (FFG 30) and Gagah Samudera-class training ship KD Gagah Samudera (271); Royal Navy of the United Kingdom’s River-class off-shore patrol vessel HMS Spey (P 234); and Republic of Singapore Navy’s Independence-class littoral mission vessel RSS Independence (15)

    As the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed DESRON in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, functions as Expeditionary Strike Group 7’s Sea Combat Commander and builds partnerships through training and exercises and military-to military engagements.

    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.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Electronic Intifada: Bringing Israeli genocide perpetrators to justice

    This article was written before The Electronic Intifada’s founding editor Ali Abunimah was arrested in Switzerland on Saturday afternoon for “speaking up for Palestine”. He has since been released and deported.

    SPECIAL REPORT: By Ali AbunimahIsrael smuggled one of its soldiers out of Cyprus, apparently fearing his detention on charges related to the genocide in Gaza, according to Dyab Abou Jahjah, the co-founder of The Hind Rajab Foundation.

    Abou Jahjah, a Belgian-Lebanese political activist and writer, told The Electronic Intifada livestream last week that his organisation was stepping up efforts all over the world to bring to justice Israeli soldiers implicated in the slaughter of tens of thousands of men, women and children over the last 15 months.

    You can watch the interview with Abou Jahjah and all of this week’s programme in the video above.


    Gaza Ceasefire Day 5. Video: The Electronic Intifada

    Speaking from Gaza, Electronic Intifada contributor Donya Abu Sitta told us how people there are coping following the ceasefire, especially those returning to devastated homes and finding the remains of loved ones.

    She shared a poem inspired by the hopes and fears of the young children she continued to teach throughout the genocide.

    Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued to attack Palestinians in some parts of Gaza. That was among developments covered in the news brief from associate editor Nora Barrows-Friedman, along with the efforts to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation.

    Israel’s genocidal war has orphaned some 40,000 children in Gaza.

    Contributing editor Jon Elmer covered the latest ceasefire developments and the resistance operations in the period leading up to it.

    We also discussed whether US President Donald Trump will force Israel to uphold the ceasefire and what the latest indications of his approach are.

    And this writer took a critical look at Episcopal Bishop of Washington Mariann Edgar Budde.

    She has been hailed as a hero for urging Donald Trump to respect the rights of marginalised groups, as the new president sat listening to her sermon at Washington’s National Cathedral.

    But over the last 15 months, Budde has parroted Israeli atrocity propaganda justifying genocide, and has repeatedly failed to condemn former President Joe Biden’s key role in the mass slaughter and did not call on him to stop sending weapons to Israel.

    Pursuing war criminals
     In the case of the soldier in Cyprus, The Hind Rajab Foundation filed a complaint, and after initial hesitation, judicial authorities in the European Union state opened an investigation of the soldier.

    “When that was opened, the Israelis smuggled the soldier out of Cyprus,” Abou Jahjah said, calling the incident the first of its kind.

    “And when I say smuggling, I’m not exaggerating, because we have information that he was even taken by a private jet,” Abou Jahjah added.

    The foundation is named after Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl who was in a car with members of her family, trying to escape the Israeli onslaught in Gaza City, when they were attacked.

    The story of Hind, trapped all alone in a car, surrounded by dead relatives, pleading over the phone for rescue, a conversation that was recorded by the Palestinian Red Crescent, is among the most poignant and brazen crimes committed during Israel’s genocide.

    According to Abou Jahjah, lawyers and activists determined to seek justice for Palestinians identified a gap in the efforts to hold Israel accountable that they could fill: pursuing individual soldiers who have in many cases posted evidence of their own crimes in Gaza on social media.

    The organisation and its growing global network of volunteers and legal professionals has been able to collect evidence on approximately 1000 Israeli soldiers which has been handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    In addition to filing cases against Israeli soldiers traveling abroad, such as the one in Cyprus, and other recent examples in Brazil, Thailand and Italy, a main focus of the foundation is individuals who hold both Israeli and another nationality.

    “Regarding the dual nationals, we are not under any restraint of time,” Abou Jahjah explained. “For example, if you’re Belgian, Belgium has jurisdiction over you.”

    Renouncing their second nationality cannot shield these soldiers, according to Abou Jahjah, because courts will take into account their citizenship at the time the alleged crime was committed.

    Abou Jahjah feels confident that with time, war criminals will be brought to justice. The organisation is also discussing expanding its work to the United States, where it may use civil litigation to hold perpetrators accountable.

    Unsurprisingly, Israel and friendly governments are pushing back against The Hind Rajab Foundation’s work, and Abou Jahjah is now living under police protection.

    “Things are kind of heavy on that level, but this will not disrupt our work,” Abou Jahjah said. “It’s kind of naive of them to think that the work of the foundation depends on a person.”

    “We have legal teams across the planet, very capable people. Our data is spread across the planet,” Abou Jahjah added. “There’s nothing they can do. This is happening.”

    Resistance report
     In his resistance report, Elmer analysed videos of operations that took place before the ceasefire, but which were only released by the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, after it took effect.

    He also previewed Saturday, 25 January, when nearly 200 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for four Israeli female soldiers.

    Will Trump keep Israel to the ceasefire?
     Pressure from President Trump was key to getting Israel to agree to a ceasefire deal it had rejected for almost a year. But will his administration keep up the pressure to see it through?

    There have been mixed messages, with Trump recently telling reporters he was not sure it would hold, but also intriguingly distancing himself from Israel. “That’s not our war, it’s their war.”

    We took a look at what these comments, as well as a renewed commitment to implementing the deal expressed by Steve Witkoff, the president’s envoy, tell us about what to expect.

    As associate editor Asa Winstanley noted, “this ceasefire is not nothing.” It came about because the resistance wore down the Israeli army, and statements from Witkoff hinting that the US may even be open to talking to Hamas deserve close attention.

    ‘Largely silent’
     By her own admission, Bishop Mariann Budde has remained “largely silent” about the genocide in Gaza, except when she was pushing Israeli propaganda or engaging in vague, liberal hand-wringing about “peace” and “love” without ever clearly condemning the perpetrators of mass slaughter and starvation of Palestinians, demanding that the US stop the flow of weapons making it possible, or calling for accountability.

    This type of evasion serves no one.

    You can watch the programme on YouTube, Rumble or Twitter/X, or you can listen to it on your preferred podcast platform.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Statement on Confirmation of Scott Bessent as Secretary of the Treasury

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
    01.27.25
    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Scott Bessent to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
    “Scott Bessent has the skills and experience necessary to lead the Treasury Department. We look forward to working with Secretary Bessent and President Trump to extend the tax cuts for American families and businesses, tackle inflation, grow our economy and get our nation’s fiscal house in order.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Harbin Ice-Snow World receives more than 2 million visitors in over one month

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

    Harbin Ice-Snow World receives more than 2 million visitors in over one month

    Updated: January 28, 2025 08:23 Xinhua
    People visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 23, 2025. As of 10 p.m. Sunday, the bustling Harbin Ice-Snow World had received more than 2 million visitors since it opened on Dec. 21, 2024. As the city’s iconic landmark, the Harbin Ice-Snow World, with this year’s edition, the largest in its history, boasts 1 million square meters, up from last year’s 800,000 square meters. More than 300,000 cubic meters of ice and snow were used in its construction. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People experience ice slide at the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 23, 2025 shows a night view of Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A tourist poses for photos at the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists take selfies at the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 23, 2025 shows a night view of Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 26, 2025 shows a night view of Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: PM emphasises importance of growth in 2025

    Source: New Zealand Government

    For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity.
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament.
    “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by the people of New Zealand with a mandate to change course. Since then, we have made big changes and we are seeing promising signs of success, with inflation dropping and remaining low, interest rates starting to fall, and wages continuing to rise,” Mr Luxon says.
    “Business and consumer confidence is rising and average mortgage interest rates have now fallen for the first time in more than three years. Wages are rising faster than inflation, supporting a recovery in household incomes. Growth is also expected to resume, reaching 2.1 per cent in 2025 according to Treasury’s latest forecasts in the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update. 
    “We need to act now to strengthen growth and productivity – both in the very near term and over the years to come.
    “In 2025, we will take action to end the culture of no – whether that’s through Fast Track, comprehensive RMA reform, rewriting our health and safety laws, enabling more mining, allowing our farmers to grow their businesses with much less red tape, or other changes designed to promote more growth and investment. 
    “In this Government’s first year in office we made tough decisions to ease the cost of living and laid the foundations for a stronger economy, rising incomes and more opportunities for New Zealanders to get ahead. 
    “This year we will continue to build on this early progress to make sure these green shoots of recovery grow into lasting improvements that benefit all New Zealanders,” Mr Luxon says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 19-2025: Further Information Regarding Changes to Import Conditions for New and Aged/Used Oversize Tyres

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    28 January 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    This notice is of relevance to importers, manufacturers, customs brokers, agents and associated biosecurity industry participants involved in the importation of new and aged/used oversize tyres.

    What has changed?

    As per import industry advice notice…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 20-2025: Services Restored: Tuesday 28 January 2025 – BICON external website

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    28 January 2025

    Who does this notice affect?

    All clients required to use the department’s Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON) – external website.

    Information

    Between 10:06 and 10:53 on Tuesday 28 January 2025 (AEDT) the BICON external website was experiencing an unplanned outage.

    This issue has since been resolved, and BICON external website users can now access these services as normal.

    Action

    No action required. The department…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What’s the difference between a food allergy and an intolerance?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Koplin, Group Leader, Childhood Allergy & Epidemiology, The University of Queensland

    Feel good studio/Shutterstock

    At one time or another, you’ve probably come across someone who is lactose intolerant and might experience some unpleasant gut symptoms if they have dairy. Maybe it’s you – food intolerances are estimated to affect up to 25% of Australians.

    Meanwhile, cow’s milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in infants and young children, affecting around one in 100 infants.

    But what’s the difference between food allergies and food intolerances? While they might seem alike, there are some fundamental differences between the two.

    What is an allergy?

    Australia has one of the highest rates of food allergies in the world. Food allergies can develop at any age but are more common in children, affecting more than 10% of one-year-olds and 6% of children at age ten.

    A food allergy happens when the body’s immune system mistakenly reacts to certain foods as if they were dangerous. The most common foods that trigger allergies include eggs, peanuts and other nuts, milk, shellfish, fish, soy and wheat.

    Mild to moderate signs of food allergy include a swollen face, lips or eyes; hives or welts on your skin; or vomiting. A severe allergic reaction (called anaphylaxis) can cause trouble breathing, persistent dizziness or collapse.

    What is an intolerance?

    Food intolerances (sometimes called non-allergic reactions) are also reactions to food, but they don’t involve your immune system.

    For example, lactose intolerance is a metabolic condition that happens when the body doesn’t produce enough lactase. This enzyme is needed to break down the lactose (a type of sugar) in dairy products.

    Food intolerances can also include reactions to natural chemicals in foods (such as salicylates, found in some fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices) and problems with artificial preservatives or flavour enhancers.

    Lactose intolerance is caused by a problem with breaking down lactose in milk.
    Pormezz/Shutterstock

    Symptoms of food intolerances can include an upset stomach, headaches and fatigue, among others.

    Food intolerances don’t cause life-threatening reactions (anaphylaxis) so are less dangerous than allergies in the short term, although they can cause problems in the longer term such as malnutrition.

    We don’t know a lot about how common food intolerances are, but they appear to be more commonly reported than allergies. They can develop at any age.

    It can be confusing

    Some foods, such as peanuts and tree nuts, are more often associated with allergy. Other foods or ingredients, such as caffeine, are more often associated with intolerance.

    Meanwhile, certain foods, such as cow’s milk and wheat or gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and barley), can cause both allergic and non-allergic reactions in different people. But these reactions, even when they’re caused by the same foods, are quite different.

    For example, children with a cow’s milk allergy can react to very small amounts of milk, and serious reactions (such as throat swelling or difficulty breathing) can happen within minutes. Conversely, many people with lactose intolerance can tolerate small amounts of lactose without symptoms.

    There are other differences too. Cow’s milk allergy is more common in children, though many infants will grow out of this allergy during childhood.

    Lactose intolerance is more common in adults, but can also sometimes be temporary. One type of lactose intolerance, secondary lactase deficiency, can be caused by damage to the gut after infection or with medication use (such as antibiotics or cancer treatment). This can go away by itself when the underlying condition resolves or the person stops using the relevant medication.

    Whether an allergy or intolerance is likely to be lifelong depends on the food and the reason that the child or adult is reacting to it.

    Allergies to some foods, such as milk, egg, wheat and soy, often resolve during childhood, whereas allergies to nuts, fish or shellfish, often (but not always) persist into adulthood. We don’t know much about how likely children are to grow out of different types of food intolerances.

    How do you find out what’s wrong?

    If you think you may have a food allergy or intolerance, see a doctor.

    Allergy tests help doctors find out which foods might be causing your allergic reactions (but can’t diagnose food intolerances). There are two common types: skin prick tests and blood tests.

    In a skin prick test, doctors put tiny amounts of allergens (the things that can cause allergies) on your skin and make small pricks to see if your body reacts.

    A blood test checks for allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in your blood that show if you might be allergic to a particular food.

    Blood tests can help diagnose allergies.
    RossHelen/Shutterstock

    Food intolerances can be tricky to figure out because the symptoms depend on what foods you eat and how much. To diagnose them, doctors look at your health history, and may do some tests (such as a breath test). They may ask you to keep a record of foods you eat and timing of symptoms.

    A temporary elimination diet, where you stop eating certain foods, can also help to work out which foods you might be intolerant to. But this should only be done with the help of a doctor or dietitian, because eliminating particular foods can lead to nutritional deficiencies, especially in children.

    Is there a cure?

    There’s currently no cure for food allergies or intolerances. For allergies in particular, it’s important to strictly avoid allergens. This means reading food labels carefully and being vigilant when eating out.

    However, researchers are studying a treatment called oral immunotherapy, which may help some people with food allergies become less sensitive to certain foods.

    Whether you have a food allergy or intolerance, your doctor or dietitian can help you to make sure you’re eating the right foods.

    Victoria Gibson, a Higher Degree by Research student and Research Officer at the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work at the University of Queensland, and Rani Scott-Farmer, a Senior Research Assistant at the University of Queensland, contributed to this article.

    Jennifer Koplin receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. She is a member of the Executive Committee for the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE), which is supported by funding from the Australian government. She was a named investigator on a grant from Sanofi Regeneron for unrelated research and has received a research award from the Stallergenes Greer Foundation.

    Desalegn Markos Shifti is supported by a Postdoctoral Fellowship funded through the Centre for Food Allergy Research Centre of Research Excellence.

    – ref. What’s the difference between a food allergy and an intolerance? – https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-a-food-allergy-and-an-intolerance-243685

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Tax Issues – Overwhelming support for Capital Gains Tax welcomed – TJA

    Source: Tax Justice Aotearoa (TJA)

    28 January 2025 – A new survey showing strong support for a capital gains tax among workers has been welcomed by Tax Justice Aotearoa (TJA).

    TJA chair Glenn Barclay said the latest Council of Trade Unions (CTU) Te Kauae Kaimahi Mood of the Workforce survey showed almost 90 per cent of respondents were in favour of a capital gains tax.

    “We welcome this result, which shows almost universal support for a capital gains tax among workers,” Mr Barclay said.

    The CTU survey asked  “Should a greater share of public services such as health and education be paid for by taxing non-income profit via a capital gains tax?” – with 87.7% answering in favour.

    “It supports what we know from public surveys held last year – and shows support is growing, with our own survey in 2023 finding 62 per cent of respondents thought all income should be taxed the same way, regardless of how it is earned.

    “A capital gains tax is now widely accepted as the tax we need to have, because we are so far out of step with the rest of the developed world when it comes to taxing capital gains.

    “Aotearoa is an outlier internationally, in that we do not tax capital gains in a comprehensive way – and this latest survey shows it’s no longer a political taboo.

    “However, a capital gains tax is not the silver bullet for our unfair and unjust tax system.

    “There are other options – such as wealth tax and excess profits taxes – that Aotearoa needs to consider in order to adequately fund public services, including health and education – and to help address inequality and challenges arising from climate change.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Minns Government moves to ban gambling advertising from trains

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Minns Government moves to ban gambling advertising from trains

    Published: 28 January 2025

    Released by: Minister for Gaming and Racing, Minister for Transport

    The Minns Government has moved to ban gambling advertising on public transport in NSW.

    The prohibition applies to Transport owned and controlled assets, including internal and external advertising on trains, metro, buses, light rail, train stations, and ferry terminals.

    Transport operates one of the largest portfolios of advertising assets across Australia. This includes 798 advertising boards at Sydney train stations, 49 road facing digital billboards, adverts on up to 3,711 urban buses, 76 trams and across the Tangara train fleet.

    The ban extends to all casino, lottery, and online betting advertising

    The NSW Government will now work with multiple advertising contract holders to implement the required changes over the next 12 months.

    Transport’s advertising suppliers must ensure that all advertising material complies with all applicable laws, accepted industry standards and codes of conduct established by the advertising industry for example, the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) Advertiser Code of Ethics and AANA Code of Ethics Practice Note.

    There are also additional rules that apply to Transport’s contract holders. These include a ban on political advertising on all assets, which applies equally to all political parties. 

    Where assets are not owned by Transport (e.g. bus stops, retail outlets or nearby private property), the NSW Government will work with the relevant entitles to see how their advertising can align with the gambling advertising ban.

    This is the latest in a suite of reforms introduced by the Minns Labor Government to reduce gambling harm. The reforms include:

    • reducing the statewide gaming machine entitlement cap in June 2023
    • banning political donations from clubs with electronic gaming machines on 1 July 2023
    • reducing the cash input limit on new gaming machines from $5,000 to $500 on 1 July 2023
    • banning all external gambling signage in venues on 1 September 2023
    • banning the placement of any signage or advertising relating to gaming machines either on, or visible from an ATM or EFTPOS terminal with cash withdrawal facilities and introduced Responsible Gambling Officers for venues with more than 20 machine entitlements, on 1 July 2024
    • requiring Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) or EFTPOS terminals that allow cash withdrawals to be  placed at least 5m from the entry to a gaming room and not be visible from any machine or entry to a gaming room, from 1 January 2025
    • established an Independent Panel to conduct a trial of cashless gaming in pubs and clubs throughout 2024
    • committing $100 million to harm minimisation – investing in research, treatment, services and reform.

    Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

    “Gambling advertising has been a common sight on our public transport for a couple of years now, and I’m pleased our Government is taking action to remove it.  Parents are rightly worried about the impact it has on their kids, so its not something that we think that needs to be on our transport network.”

    “With over 3,500 buses, close to 800 advertising assets at train stations, as well as advertising on light rail and trains, Transport’s advertising contracts are vast. Because of the scale it will take some time to implement this change, but we will be working closely with our contract partners over the next 12 months to get this done.”

    Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

    “Removing gambling advertising from public transport is another demonstration of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to reducing gambling harm in NSW.

    “This move will reduce the public’s exposure to gambling advertising and builds on the suite of reforms the government has introduced over the past 20 months to reduce harmful impacts of gambling.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Roadmap needed to navigate the edtech landscape

    Source: Australian Education Union

    28 January 2025

    The burgeoning national edtech market must be built around high-quality resources to establish a resilient baseline for the rapid infiltration of digital resources and learning applications, say Professor Leslie Loble AM and Dr Kelly Stephens, from University of Technology (UTS) Sydney Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion.

    Loble and Stephens are the authors of a new research paper, Towards high quality in Australian educational technology, which raises concerns about the dark side of artificial intelligence (AI), including data sovereignty and safety, equity and inclusion, inherent bias, and commercial interests.

    The paper addresses concerns about public school resourcing and teacher workloads, roles and relationships with students, and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), which is capable of mimicking human content, ideas and data, adds a layer of complexity.

    Despite the rapid growth of the market and the proliferating number of publicly available edtech apps, which number around 500,000 on Apple and Google, with more still marketed directly to schools, there is “no independent, comprehensive source of information about the quality of digitally enabled education resources in Australia”, the paper says.

    “Schools, teachers, students and their parents can find themselves having to navigate a confusing market without the time, information, or technical expertise they need to answer critical questions like:

    • -Are these tools aligned to the Australian curriculum (or local variants) and to evidence-backed approaches to teaching and learning?
    • -Are they designed to benefit the full range of learners?
    • -Who owns the data and what does that mean for data sovereignty and safety?
    • -Is there evidence that they work, and for whom?

    “In worst-case scenarios, edtech is not only ineffectual, but dangerous,” the paper says.

    Stephens says robust quality assurance (QA) can alleviate burden from teachers and schools, who should not have responsibility for making detailed and sometimes technical judgements about
    a resource’s fitness for purpose.

    The need for GenAI literacy and training for leaders, teachers, support staff, students, parents, guardians and policymakers was among the 25 recommendations of a federal parliamentary committee report, Study buddy or influencer, released in September.

    GenAI “presents exciting opportunities and yet high-stakes risks for the Australian education system”, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training acknowledged following its inquiry into the use of GenAI.

    The recommendations included providing funding to set up virtual and physical hubs to provide expert and technical advice and support to institutions, regulating edtech companies and developers through a system-wide risks-based legal framework, and expediting the implementation of the Australian Framework for GenAI in Schools (released in January).

    Loble was an expert advisory panel member for the inquiry and is Chair of the Australian Network for Quality Digital Education (ANQDE), a cross-industry leadership group.

    “The good news is that the recommendations are substantively aligned with our QA report, and the committee has specifically called out the need to address the digital and educational divide, as well as safety and security,” she says.

    “They recognise the existing risks of these tools, which we need to mitigate, but also the risk of doing nothing – we need to be alert to both to avoid worsening Australia’s learning divide.”

    Quality assurance can support systems by providing a national process and avoiding unnecessary duplication of effort by states and territories. But states would still be able to “run their own ruler over a resource” if they wanted to assure themselves of alignment with any particular state-based criteria.

    “National quality standards mean this would be a less resource-intensive process if all the fundamentals have already been assessed,” she says.

    NSW Teachers Federation deputy president Amber Flohm agrees it would be “untenable to simply assume that school leaders, teachers and support staff possess the technical expertise, time, and resources to manage these risks on their own”.

    “Sufficient and effective regulation and scrutiny by education systems and government is the only way to ensure educational integrity, privacy and ethical concerns are balanced against commercial interests as the use of edtech and generative artificial intelligence becomes more widespread,” Flohm says.

    From trial to tool

    From Term 4, public teachers in NSW will have access to the department of education’s endorsed NSWEduChat GenAI tool, initially trialled for students in response to statewide bans on ChatGPT last year.

    The department says the trials, conducted in 50 schools, showed the tool could save time by producing student resources and automating administrative tasks, “giving teachers more time to focus on personalised learning and student interactions”.

    “NSWEduChat does not replace the valuable work of our teachers, it helps them to save time, tailor their resources, and focus on their critical work in the classroom,” says education minister Prue Car.

    Flohm says NSWEduChat was initially designed to assist with student tasks such as essay writing, and collect data on equity and data privacy, but cautions against the de-professionalisation of teachers.

    “When it comes to professional tools for teacher use, available technology should not determine what the solution is and then work back to the problem. Rather teachers should work out what they want AI to do to support their work,” she says.

    “The capacity of GenAI to create immediate lesson plans is obvious, and no doubt attractive to a time-poor profession. However, understanding how syllabus, curriculum and the associated pedagogies interact to benefit the growth of students’ knowledge and skills is the core of teachers’ intellectual labour, and this must never be reduced or outsourced to technology.”

    Testing the tools

    Though work is being done at all levels, national standards are needed, and teachers must be brought in to help with evaluation. They will need to ensure GenAI tools align with their schools’ needs, including student literacy and learning levels and backgrounds, and that teacher knowledge and skill is used to turn data into effective classroom practice.

    Dr Kelly Stephens says there is “currently nothing in the way of national standards, apart from ESA’s Safe Technology for Schools program, recently updated for GenAI”.

    She says evaluation is benefiting from reviews across diverse fields, including by teachers, edtech and learning media experts, child development scholars, instructional designers, K-12 subject matter experts, and school technology leaders.

    “Our consultations with teachers have suggested that rather than diminishing the importance of teacher professionalism, edtech highlights it.

    “This might include using an online curriculum application to help cater to a very broad range of learning levels in a classroom and rely on their breadth and depth of subject expertise to provide point-in-time support and monitoring of student progress,” says Stephens.

    “Or using generative image software to improve engagement with school and learning, build digital literacy and super-charge English language acquisition by recent migrants and refugees.”

    Equity and inclusion must remain a significant priority in the evaluation process, particularly as GenAI has the potential to increase disadvantage through cost, literacy and digital access.

    “If we drop our guard on this, there is every chance that better resourced students, families, schools and systems will be better equipped to assess, explore, and benefit from existing and emerging digital tools,” says Stephens.

    “This absolutely requires adequate and equitable resourcing at the school level. It also invites governments to consider how best to use other levers at their disposal, to bend the market toward equity, such as quality standards and procurement processes.”

    Statewide challenges

    AEU Victorian Branch vice president, secondary, Marino D’Ortenzio warns that despite the national framework for GenAI, there are different views on its use and implementation between jurisdictions in Australia. “For example, in NSW AI is permitted to be used to create newsletters, whereas in Victoria this is explicitly forbidden in the Victorian government school system policy.”

    D’Ortenzio says that as GenAI and machine learning systems become ubiquitous, system-wide training will be vital to prepare staff adequately and schools must be given the means to analyse impact on teacher workload.

    “We recognise that GenAI is here and, that students and teachers are using it. This means our approaches to learning tasks have already begun to alter. Teachers must be at the centre of decisions relating to AI and pedagogy in schools as it expands in its scope and use,” he says.

    “We know of schools that are changing the way they approach tasks to ensure that GenAI does not give students who use it an advantage. Some are returning to hand-written assessment pieces. Others are setting tasks that assume GenAI is going to be used, by getting students to identify how they might ask a GenAI model to produce a result, and then analysing the result to examine where they are flawed.

    “The department of education and training must be accountable for the implementation, use and decisions of GenAI in schools. This accountability should be set out in clear, publicly available guidelines for schools and their communities.”

    D’Ortenzio also says commercial businesses who see an opportunity for profit making must be deprioritised behind educational programs, pedagogical models, student development and student achievement.

    Ad-hoc regulation

    Use of AI technology in Queensland remains ad-hoc and regulation of platforms and guidelines for digital technology have not kept pace with change, says Queensland Teachers’ Union honorary vice president Josh Cleary.

    “There is an urgent need for the profession to adopt a decision-making framework and ensure there is industrial consultation that addresses the full suite of legal, professional and educational issues,” he says.

    When the Queensland Department of Education began consultation in 2020 it assumed teachers would familiarise themselves with new digital technologies outside of working hours.

    “The QTU successfully negotiated an allocation of additional funds for the purpose of releasing teachers to undertake training. The rollout of the professional training was not perfect, but the approach to consultation between the parties has significantly improved,” he says.

    Excessive data entry and unreasonable quantities of email are two common examples of work intensification that detract from teachers’ time to plan, implement, and evaluate effective teaching and learning practices, and the use of AI has so far added to teacher workloads rather than allow teachers to focus on what they do best: teaching students.

    “A future-focused pedagogy might use GenAI technology as a platform, but classrooms should not become subordinate to technology’s use. Teachers must be given training to help them ensure students learn to maintain a critical awareness of information and make discerning choices about the use of GenAI,” Cleary says.

    This article was originally published in the Australian Educator, Summer 2024

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lexington Man Sentenced for for Trafficking in Fentanyl and Carfentanil

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

     

    LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Eugene Laron Fishback, 32, was sentenced on Monday, by U.S. District Chief Judge Danny C. Reeves, to 40 years in prison, for five counts of drug trafficking.

    In June 2024, following a four-day trial and approximately 90 minutes of deliberation, the jury found Fishback guilty of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 10 grams or more of carfentanil.  Fishback was also convicted of two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and carfentanil, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

    According to testimony at trial, between July 1, 2022 and December 7, 2023, Fishback conspired with others to distribute fentanyl and carfentanil.  On October 11, 2023, Fishback and his girlfriend, Tedi Hawkins, were evicted from their Lexington apartment.  During a court ordered eviction, Fayette County Constables and members of the Lexington Police Department found plastic bags in the apartment, which contained over 7,000 fentanyl tablets, and four semi-automatic pistols, ammunition, and large capacity clips.  Fishback and Hawkins later relocated to another apartment complex and came under DEA and Lexington Police Department investigation.

    A federal search warrant was executed on the new residence, in December 2023.  Execution of that warrant resulted in the seizure of more than 1,000 additional fentanyl tablets and a quantity of carfentanil.  Fishback was later arrested from his vehicle, which contained another 1,000 fentanyl tablets and more than 10 grams of carfentanil.   

    After Hawkins had entered a guilty plea, Fishback attempted to convince her to withdraw that guilty plea, during a recorded jail call.

    At the time of his indictment on these federal charges, Fishback had four pending state felony indictments in Fayette County. Additionally, Fishback has a number of prior felony convictions.

    Under federal law, Fishback must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon Fishback’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. 

    Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

    The investigation was conducted by DEA, KSP, and Lexington Police Department, with assistance from the Fayette County Constable’s Office Third District. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger West and Brittany Baker are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.  

    — END —

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: San Antonio Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Dozens of Machinegun Conversion Devices

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced today to 71 months in prison for one count of possession of a machinegun.

    According to court documents, Aden Ethan Cantu aka Glock Mayne, 21, unlawfully possessed multiple machinegun conversion devices, also known as switches. In total, Cantu was held accountable for the unlawful possession of 94 switches and other machinegun conversion devices, which he had been trafficking throughout the San Antonio community. Cantu was arrested Dec. 15, 2023 and has remained in federal custody. He pleaded guilty to the charge Sept. 25, 2024.

    “The possession of a machinegun conversion device is illegal,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas, “These devices are very often paired with stolen firearms and used in other criminal endeavors, and this sentence reinforces the message that trafficking these devices will not be tolerated in our community.”

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney John Fedock prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ON THE JOB FOR MICHIGAN: Port Director Paul LaMarre Emphasizes Senator Peters’ Efforts to Deliver Results for Port of Monroe

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    Published: 01.27.2025
    On the Job Video Series Highlights Senator Peters’ Efforts to Help Constituents and Communities Across Michigan

    WASHINGTON, DC – In a new video from U.S. Senator Gary Peters’ (MI) office, Captain Paul LaMarre III, Director of the Port of Monroe and President of the American Great Lakes Ports Association, emphasizes Peters’ efforts to help support the Port of Monroe and position it for long-term success. The video is part of the On the Job for Michigan series, which highlights Peters’ leadership and advocacy on behalf of constituents and communities across Michigan.  
    “Senator Peters has supported the Port of Monroe, not just from our efforts to create Michigan’s first marine container terminal, which will be known as Michigan’s Maritime Gateway, but he also championed a number of grant efforts that have led to improved infrastructure and equipment that will put the port at the cutting edge of the next generation of Great Lakes shipping,” said LaMarre.  

    Watch Captain LaMarre’s On the Job for Michigan video here. You can also see the video posted on X/Twitter. 
    “The Port of Monroe is a critical resource for our Michigan manufacturers and our partners across the Great Lakes Region,” said Senator Peters. “I’ll continue to work alongside Captain LaMarre to help strengthen operations and ensure the Port of Monroe continues to play an important role in transporting the commodities and products that families and businesses rely on every day.” 
      During his time in the Senate, Peters has prioritized strengthening Michigan’s shipping ports, including the Port of Monroe. Since 2020, Peters has helped to secure nearly $13 million in grant funding for the port, including investments to expand cargo capacity, purchase new crane equipment and upgrade cargo screening infrastructure. In 2024, LaMarre testified during a Commerce Subcommittee field hearing convened by Peters to examine the impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law on Michigan’s transportation infrastructure. In 2021, Peters toured the Port of Monroe with Customs and Border Protection officials to discuss cargo clearance challenges facing the port.  
    Peters has also worked alongside LaMarre and other stakeholders to support Michigan’s maritime workforce. In 2023, Peters’ bipartisan Changing Age-Determined Eligibility to Student Incentive Payments (CADETS) Act was signed into law, expanding the Student Incentive Payment Program eligibility age for financial assistance to cadets who attended one of the six State Maritime Academies and commit to a post-graduation service obligation to include any qualified student who will meet the age requirements for enlistment in the U.S. Navy Reserve at their time of graduation.  
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Information session about work on Highway 14, Idlemore has been postponed

    The information session planned for Sooke to share details about work at the intersection of Highway 14 and Idlemore Road has been postponed.

    A new date for the session will be announced as soon it is as available.

    The ministry is consulting with Saseenos Elementary school and stakeholders to ensure the design details for the improved intersection support the needs of the community. The aim of the project is to increase safety and ease the flow of traffic for drivers, pedestrians and people cycling or rolling in the area.

    The information session was scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, at Saseenos Elementary school.

    Learn More:

    More information about the project can be found here: https://gov.bc.ca/highway14idlemore

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Photo and Video Chronology — January 23 & 24, 2025 — Inactive vents at Kīlauea summit

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Photo and Video Chronology — January 23 & 24, 2025 — Inactive vents at Kīlauea summit

    Kīlauea summit eruption has been paused since 4:30 a.m. HST January 23. Resumption of activity possible beginning in 4-5 days at current inflation rates.

    January 24, 2025 — Kīlauea summit overflight

    On the morning of January 24th, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists conducted an overflight of Kīlauea summit to capture thermal and surficial imagery of the December 2024 to January 2025 paused eruption. This video compilation shows aerial views of Halema’uma’u captured during the overflight. 
    The north vent that was erupting during episode five of the recent Kīlauea summit eruption has a small patch of lava that was weakly spattering during the morning of February 24, 2025. USGS photo by J. Barnett.

    January 17, 2025 – UAS video of spattering eruptive vents in Halema‘uma‘u

    On Friday, January 17, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) geologists flew an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS, or “drone”) into Halema‘uma‘u crater to capture this close-up video of spattering at the two active vents of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. Friday’s UAS flight was conducted with the permission of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, owing to HVO’s mission to monitor active volcanoes in Hawaii, assess their hazards, issue warnings, and advance scientific understanding to reduce the impacts of eruptions. Unauthorized launching, landing, or operating of a UAS from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service is prohibited under 36 CFR Closures & Public Use.

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