Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI China: US companies cut more workforces: data

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

    U.S. public companies have reduced their white-collar workforces by a collective 3.5 percent over the past three years, according to employment data-provider Live Data Technologies, with one in five companies in the S&P 500 having shrunk over the past decade.

    “The cuts go beyond typical cost-trimming and speak to a broader shift in philosophy,” reported The Wall Street Journal about the development. “Adding talent, once a sign of surging sales and confidence in the future, now means leaders must be doing something wrong.”

    New technologies like generative artificial intelligence are allowing companies to do more with less. But there’s more to this movement. From Amazon in Seattle to Bank of America in Charlotte, North Carolina, and at companies big and small everywhere in between, there’s a growing belief that having too many employees is itself an impediment. “The message from many bosses: Anyone still on the payroll could be working harder,” noted the report.

    All of the shrinking turns on its head the usual cycle of hiring and firing. Companies often let go of workers in recessions, then staff up when the economy picks up. Yet the workforce cuts in recent years coincide with a surge in sales and profits, heralding a more fundamental shift in the way leaders evaluate their workforces, it added. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com launches express delivery service in Saudi Arabia

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

    JINGDONG Logistics, the logistics arm of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, launched an express delivery service in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, as part of its efforts to expand globally.

    According to a statement released by the company, the new service, named JoyExpress, is a self-operated B2C express delivery service.

    Covering most regions of the kingdom, JoyExpress offers doorstep delivery options, including cash-on-delivery, and delivery as fast as the same day or next day.

    “JINGDONG Logistics will provide leading-edge services to our customers in Saudi Arabia and align with Saudi Vision 2030 strategy with its focus on logistics and job creation,” said Charlie Peng, head of the Middle East section at JINGDONG Logistics, during the launch ceremony.

    “JINGDONG Logistics’ investment in Saudi Arabia aligns with our national vision to become a global logistics hub,” said Rayan Albakri, deputy minister of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, during the ceremony.

    In Saudi Arabia, JINGDONG Logistics is building a network of warehouses, transfer and sorting centers, and a growing number of delivery stations.

    In China, JD.com operates more than 3,600 warehouses and 19,000 delivery stations and service outlets, employing nearly 510,000 front-line operational staff. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Russian investment fund to cooperate with Chinese digital trade platform

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

    The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Qifa, a Chinese-founded B2B digital trade platform operating across the Russia-China corridor, inked a strategic partnership on Wednesday at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) to advance cross-border digital trade and expand bilateral commerce.

    The collaboration agreement, signed on the sidelines of the forum, underscores joint efforts to modernize trade processes through technological integration. “RDIF and Qifa, a Russia-China B2B digital trade platform, have agreed to partner in developing digital trade and scaling bilateral trade volumes,” the fund stated in a press release.

    According to RDIF, the initiative will harness AI-driven solutions to streamline trade workflows, enhancing transparency and operational efficiency for businesses. This, in turn, is expected to drive product assortment expansion and cost optimization — key levers for accelerating trade growth in line with bilateral strategic objectives.

    “China leads in trade volume with Russia, with a robust e-commerce ecosystem already in place. RDIF’s focus on facilitating market access for Sino-Russian enterprises makes this partnership with Qifa an important step in elevating cross-border digital trade,” said Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of RDIF, in a statement.

    The 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum runs from June 18 to 21 this year, gathering delegates from over 100 countries and regions. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Boca’s Herrera, Figal handed four-game bans

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

    Boca Juniors pair Ander Herrera and Nicolas Figal were suspended for four matches each after receiving red cards in the Argentine club’s FIFA Club World Cup opener against Benfica.

    Angel Di Maria (front) of SL Benfica takes a penalty kick during the group C match between CA Boca Juniors of Argentina and SL Benfica of Portugal at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, the United States, June 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

    Boca said it would appeal the decisions, arguing that the punishments are disproportionate after Benfica’s Andrea Belotti received a two-match ban for a head-high challenge on Ayrton Costa during Monday’s 2-2 draw in Miami.

    “We have already contacted FIFA to submit an appeal,” a Boca spokesperson was quoted as saying in the Argentine press on Wednesday.

    Herrera was sent off from the bench in the 45th minute after remonstrating with Mexican referee Cesar Ramos over a penalty decision against the Buenos Aires outfit.

    Figal was dismissed for a studs-up challenge on Florentino Luis two minutes from time.

    Boca’s next match in Group C will be against Bayern Munich at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on Friday.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police release further CCTV in a further appeal for Elisabeth Nicholls

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Attributable to Detective Sergeant Lucy Aldridge

    Christchurch Police are releasing the above CCTV images in a further appeal for information on the whereabouts of 79-year-old Elisabeth Nicholls.

    These CCTV images of Lis were taken during her last confirmed sighting at the Chateau on the Park in Riccarton, at around 7.54pm on Wednesday 4 June.

    Since Elisabeth was reported missing, searchers and Police have gone door to door, reviewed CCTV footage, searched the Avon River, and made further extensive enquiries, but we have not been able to find Lis.

    Today, Police deployed a drone in the Riccarton and Hagley Park areas between 8am and midday. We are now in the process of examining these images and reviewing what was captured.

    Police are urging residents in the nearby area who have not yet done so to please check their backyards, sheds and sleepouts, and anywhere where a person could seek shelter on your property.

    We, alongside Lis’ family, are seriously concerned for her wellbeing and are appealing to anyone with information to please contact us.

    For anyone with CCTV, dashcam, or video footage in the Riccarton and Hagley Park areas between 6.40pm on Wednesday 4 June to 8am on Thursday 5 June, please review the footage you have and contact Police if you believe you see Lis.

    When Lis went missing in the Riccarton area, she was physically strong, and may have walked some distance.

    If you see Lis, please ring Police on 111 immediately. If you have information regarding her whereabouts, please contact us online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or by calling 105.

    Please use the reference number 250604/5465.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Otago students to benefit from more classrooms

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government’s ensuring hundreds more students in Otago benefit from new, safe, warm and dry classrooms.
    A $27 million investment into new infrastructure will help make sure schools meet the needs of their communities and gets ahead of new growth.
    It will support the construction of:

    Six new teaching spaces at Dunstan High School
    A twelve-teaching space expansion at Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau

    The investment is in addition to the purchase of a site at Ladies Mile in Queenstown last year, which will accommodate a new primary school in the area.
    “Queenstown in particular, has had strong and steady growth over the last decade, and we are committed to ensuring they are equipped to teach the basics brilliantly. Planning for the two growth projects is underway and is expected to begin in the next 12 months. This means that students, families and the Otago community can benefit sooner,” Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
    “Funding for the construction of the new primary school at Ladies Mile will be considered in future years. Securing the land at this time means that we will be able to hit ‘go’ on construction when capacity is needed.” 
    This announcement builds on the Government’s commitment to ongoing investment in school property, and follows recent announcements to support growth in Canterbury, the Central North Island and provision of specialist education. 
    “Quality education is crucial to growing the regions. These new classrooms are an investment in the future of young learners in Otago Central Lakes and builds on the 120 new classrooms announced for Canterbury in the last month,” South Island Minister James Meager says.
    “There is huge potential for Otago Central Lakes to become a hub for digital and tech investors, alongside our traditional backbone industries of tourism and agriculture. To enable that investment, we need to foster brilliance in our young people by investing in their future and building for growth. We also need a high-quality education infrastructure to attract the best quality workforce to our regions.”
    “Our efficiencies in school property delivery allows more schools, communities and children benefit sooner. The use of standardised building designs and offsite manufacturing have lowered the average cost of a classroom by 28%, allowing 30% more classrooms to be delivered last year compared to 2023. We will continue to drive costs down so more Kiwi kids can thrive,” Ms Stanford says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Deloraine Police seize illegal firearms, drugs during targeted searches

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Deloraine Police seize illegal firearms, drugs during targeted searches

    Thursday, 19 June 2025 – 12:31 pm.

    Two people have been separately charged after police seized multiple firearms and illicit substances during two unrelated searches in the Meander Valley area this week.

    Deloraine Police conducted the first targeted search at a Weegeena residence on Tuesday 17 June.

    During the search, police located and seized a .22 calibre rifle, a 22 Magnum rifle, an air rifle, and a Glock pistol as well as ammunition and quantities of illicit substances.

    A 52-year-old Weegeena man has been charged with multiple drug and firearms offences, and will appear in court at a later date.

    In a second, unrelated search at a Deloraine address on Wednesday 18 June, police located a hydroponic cannabis growing room and seized a large quantity of cannabis.

    A 56 year old Deloraine man has been charged with multiple drug-related offences and will appear in court at a later date.

    Inspector Craig Fox said police continued to target illegal drug and firearm activity throughout Tasmania.

    “We know the impact drugs and firearms have on the community, and these searches are evidence of our continued commitment to community safety and holding offenders to account,” he said.

    Anyone with information about illegal firearms or illicit substances is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 19, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 19, 2025.

    Australian citizens in Iran and Israel are desperate to leave. Is the government required to help?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney As thousands of Australian citizens and permanent residents stuck in Iran and Israel continue to register for repatriation flights, the government is scrambling to find safe ways to evacuate them. With

    Popular period-tracking apps can hold years of personal data – new NZ research finds mixed awareness of risk
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Friedlander, PhD Candidate in Sociology, University of Waikato Shutterstock/Krotnakro Period-tracking apps are popular digital tools for a range of menstrual, reproductive and general health purposes. But the way these apps collect and use data involves risk. Many apps encourage users to log information well beyond their

    Migrating bogong moths use the stars and Earth’s magnetic field to find ancestral summer caves each year
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eric Warrant, Professor of Zoology at the University of Lund, Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University, and Adjunct Professor, University of South Australia Vik Dunis/iNaturalist, CC BY-NC It’s a warm January summer afternoon, and as I traverse the flower-strewn western slopes of Australia’s highest mountain, Mount

    Jaws at 50: how a single movie changed our perception of white sharks forever
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Long, Strategic Professor in Palaeontology, Flinders University Shane Myers Photography/Shutterstock It’s been 50 years since Steven Spielberg’s movie Jaws first cast a terrifying shadow across our screens. At a low point during production, Spielberg worried he’d only ever be known for “a big fish story”. The

    Robot eyes are power hungry. What if we gave them tools inspired by the human brain?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam D Hines, Research Fellow, Centre for Robotics, Queensland University of Technology A hexapod robot navigating outdoors. Adam Hines Robots are increasingly becoming a part of our lives – from warehouse automation to robotic vacuum cleaners. And just like humans, robots need to know where they are

    Winter viruses can trigger a heart attack or stroke, our study shows. It’s another good reason to get a flu or COVID shot
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tu Nguyen, PhD Candidate, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Irina Shatilova/Shutterstock Winter is here, along with cold days and the inevitable seasonal surge in respiratory viruses. But it’s not only the sniffles we need to worry about. Heart attacks and strokes also

    School playgrounds are one of the main locations for bullying. How can they be set up to stop it?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Arts and Education, Charles Sturt University Dan Kenyon/ Getty Images Children spend thousands of hours in playgrounds at school. A lot of this time does not have the same levels of teacher preparation and supervision as classrooms do. Research shows

    Would you cheat on your tax? It’s a risky move, the tax office knows a lot about you
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert B Whait, Senior Lecturer in Taxation Law, University of South Australia Soon, more than 15 million Australians should be lodging a tax return with the Australian Taxation Office in the hope of receiving at least a small refund. About 60% of taxpayers use an accountant to

    Companies are betting on AI to help lift productivity. Workers need to be part of the process
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Llewellyn Spink, AI Corporate Governance Lead, Human Technology Institute, University of Technology Sydney The Conversation, CC BY-NC Australia’s productivity is flatlining, posting the worst vitals we’ve seen in 60 years. Politicians and chief executives are prescribing artificial intelligence (AI) like it’s the new penicillin – a wonder

    Is Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend album cover satire or self-degradation? A psychology expert explores our reactions
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katrina Muller-Townsend, Lecturer in Psychology, Edith Cowan University Island Records Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend album cover has fans divided. Carpenter poses on all fours, her glossy blond hair grasped by a male figure cropped from the frame. Her wide-eyed expression intensifies an ambiguous performance of subservience,

    Kicked out for coming out: more than half of LGBTIQ+ flatmates face discrimination for their identity
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brodie Fraser, Senior Research Fellow, He Kāinga Oranga Housing and Health Research Programme, University of Otago Sangar Akreyi/Getty Images People who belong to the LGBTIQ+ community say flatting is fraught with difficulties that go well beyond learning new routines and sharing space with strangers. Our new research

    Tracing the Drax family’s millions – a story of British landed gentry, slavery and sugar plantations
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Lashmar, Reader in Journalism, City St George’s, University of London ‘Planting the sugar-cane’: vast fortunes were made from the trades in both sugar and human slaves in the Americas. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library Rich

    Nineteen Eighty-Four might have been inspired by George Orwell’s fear of drowning
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nathan Waddell, Associate Professor in Twentieth-Century Literature, University of Birmingham George Orwell had a traumatic relationship with the sea. In August 1947, while he was writing Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) on the island of Jura in the Scottish Hebrides, he went on a fishing trip with his young

    What happens when aid is cut to a large refugee camp? Kenyan study paints a bleak picture
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olivier Sterck, Associate professor, University of Oxford Humanitarian needs are rising around the world. At the same time, major donors such as the US and the UK are pulling back support, placing increasing strain on already overstretched aid systems. Global humanitarian needs have quadrupled since 2015, driven

    Grok’s ‘white genocide’ responses show how generative AI can be weaponized
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Foulds, Associate Professor of Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Someone altered the AI chatbot Grok to make it insert text about a debunked conspiracy theory in unrelated responses. Cheng Xin/Getty Images The AI chatbot Grok spent one day in May 2025 spreading debunked conspiracy

    Politics with Michelle Grattan: an ‘impatient’ Jim Chalmers on taking political risks in Labor’s second term
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images While the world’s media is largely focused on conflict in the Middle East, the focus for many Australians remains at home, with the government preparing the long task ahead of trying to lift Australia’s productivity. Last week,

    View from The Hill: Jim Chalmers wants to get on with economic reform and tax is in his sights
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Jim Chalmers speaking to the National Press Club June 18, 2025. Screenshot from the ABC Broadcast, CC BY-NC Jim Chalmers cast his Wednesday National Press Club speech as a second instalment in a two-part presentation that was kicked off by

    Iran’s long history of revolution, defiance and outside interference – and why its future is so uncertain
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Australian National University; and Vice Chancellor’s Strategic Fellow, Victoria University Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has gone beyond his initial aim of destroying Iran’s ability to produce nuclear weapons. He has called on the Iranian people

    95 lawyers demand stronger NZ stand over Israel amid Middle East tensions
    Asia Pacific Report Ninety-five New Zealand lawyers — including nine king’s counsel — have signed a letter demanding Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and two other ministers urge the government to take a stronger stand against Israel’s “catastrophic” actions in Gaza. The letter has been sent amid rising tensions in the region,

    Gay and bisexual men will soon be able to donate blood and plasma
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yasmin Mowat, Clinical Project Manager, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney AnnaStills/Getty Images Many gay and bisexual men have been excluded from donating blood and plasma (the liquid portion of blood) for decades because of rules developed during the HIV crisis in the 1980s. The Australian Red Cross’ blood

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 19, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 19, 2025.

    Australian citizens in Iran and Israel are desperate to leave. Is the government required to help?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney As thousands of Australian citizens and permanent residents stuck in Iran and Israel continue to register for repatriation flights, the government is scrambling to find safe ways to evacuate them. With

    Popular period-tracking apps can hold years of personal data – new NZ research finds mixed awareness of risk
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Friedlander, PhD Candidate in Sociology, University of Waikato Shutterstock/Krotnakro Period-tracking apps are popular digital tools for a range of menstrual, reproductive and general health purposes. But the way these apps collect and use data involves risk. Many apps encourage users to log information well beyond their

    Migrating bogong moths use the stars and Earth’s magnetic field to find ancestral summer caves each year
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eric Warrant, Professor of Zoology at the University of Lund, Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University, and Adjunct Professor, University of South Australia Vik Dunis/iNaturalist, CC BY-NC It’s a warm January summer afternoon, and as I traverse the flower-strewn western slopes of Australia’s highest mountain, Mount

    Jaws at 50: how a single movie changed our perception of white sharks forever
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Long, Strategic Professor in Palaeontology, Flinders University Shane Myers Photography/Shutterstock It’s been 50 years since Steven Spielberg’s movie Jaws first cast a terrifying shadow across our screens. At a low point during production, Spielberg worried he’d only ever be known for “a big fish story”. The

    Robot eyes are power hungry. What if we gave them tools inspired by the human brain?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam D Hines, Research Fellow, Centre for Robotics, Queensland University of Technology A hexapod robot navigating outdoors. Adam Hines Robots are increasingly becoming a part of our lives – from warehouse automation to robotic vacuum cleaners. And just like humans, robots need to know where they are

    Winter viruses can trigger a heart attack or stroke, our study shows. It’s another good reason to get a flu or COVID shot
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tu Nguyen, PhD Candidate, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Irina Shatilova/Shutterstock Winter is here, along with cold days and the inevitable seasonal surge in respiratory viruses. But it’s not only the sniffles we need to worry about. Heart attacks and strokes also

    School playgrounds are one of the main locations for bullying. How can they be set up to stop it?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Arts and Education, Charles Sturt University Dan Kenyon/ Getty Images Children spend thousands of hours in playgrounds at school. A lot of this time does not have the same levels of teacher preparation and supervision as classrooms do. Research shows

    Would you cheat on your tax? It’s a risky move, the tax office knows a lot about you
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert B Whait, Senior Lecturer in Taxation Law, University of South Australia Soon, more than 15 million Australians should be lodging a tax return with the Australian Taxation Office in the hope of receiving at least a small refund. About 60% of taxpayers use an accountant to

    Companies are betting on AI to help lift productivity. Workers need to be part of the process
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Llewellyn Spink, AI Corporate Governance Lead, Human Technology Institute, University of Technology Sydney The Conversation, CC BY-NC Australia’s productivity is flatlining, posting the worst vitals we’ve seen in 60 years. Politicians and chief executives are prescribing artificial intelligence (AI) like it’s the new penicillin – a wonder

    Is Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend album cover satire or self-degradation? A psychology expert explores our reactions
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katrina Muller-Townsend, Lecturer in Psychology, Edith Cowan University Island Records Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend album cover has fans divided. Carpenter poses on all fours, her glossy blond hair grasped by a male figure cropped from the frame. Her wide-eyed expression intensifies an ambiguous performance of subservience,

    Kicked out for coming out: more than half of LGBTIQ+ flatmates face discrimination for their identity
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brodie Fraser, Senior Research Fellow, He Kāinga Oranga Housing and Health Research Programme, University of Otago Sangar Akreyi/Getty Images People who belong to the LGBTIQ+ community say flatting is fraught with difficulties that go well beyond learning new routines and sharing space with strangers. Our new research

    Tracing the Drax family’s millions – a story of British landed gentry, slavery and sugar plantations
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Lashmar, Reader in Journalism, City St George’s, University of London ‘Planting the sugar-cane’: vast fortunes were made from the trades in both sugar and human slaves in the Americas. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library Rich

    Nineteen Eighty-Four might have been inspired by George Orwell’s fear of drowning
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nathan Waddell, Associate Professor in Twentieth-Century Literature, University of Birmingham George Orwell had a traumatic relationship with the sea. In August 1947, while he was writing Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) on the island of Jura in the Scottish Hebrides, he went on a fishing trip with his young

    What happens when aid is cut to a large refugee camp? Kenyan study paints a bleak picture
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olivier Sterck, Associate professor, University of Oxford Humanitarian needs are rising around the world. At the same time, major donors such as the US and the UK are pulling back support, placing increasing strain on already overstretched aid systems. Global humanitarian needs have quadrupled since 2015, driven

    Grok’s ‘white genocide’ responses show how generative AI can be weaponized
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Foulds, Associate Professor of Information Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Someone altered the AI chatbot Grok to make it insert text about a debunked conspiracy theory in unrelated responses. Cheng Xin/Getty Images The AI chatbot Grok spent one day in May 2025 spreading debunked conspiracy

    Politics with Michelle Grattan: an ‘impatient’ Jim Chalmers on taking political risks in Labor’s second term
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images While the world’s media is largely focused on conflict in the Middle East, the focus for many Australians remains at home, with the government preparing the long task ahead of trying to lift Australia’s productivity. Last week,

    View from The Hill: Jim Chalmers wants to get on with economic reform and tax is in his sights
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Jim Chalmers speaking to the National Press Club June 18, 2025. Screenshot from the ABC Broadcast, CC BY-NC Jim Chalmers cast his Wednesday National Press Club speech as a second instalment in a two-part presentation that was kicked off by

    Iran’s long history of revolution, defiance and outside interference – and why its future is so uncertain
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Australian National University; and Vice Chancellor’s Strategic Fellow, Victoria University Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has gone beyond his initial aim of destroying Iran’s ability to produce nuclear weapons. He has called on the Iranian people

    95 lawyers demand stronger NZ stand over Israel amid Middle East tensions
    Asia Pacific Report Ninety-five New Zealand lawyers — including nine king’s counsel — have signed a letter demanding Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and two other ministers urge the government to take a stronger stand against Israel’s “catastrophic” actions in Gaza. The letter has been sent amid rising tensions in the region,

    Gay and bisexual men will soon be able to donate blood and plasma
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yasmin Mowat, Clinical Project Manager, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney AnnaStills/Getty Images Many gay and bisexual men have been excluded from donating blood and plasma (the liquid portion of blood) for decades because of rules developed during the HIV crisis in the 1980s. The Australian Red Cross’ blood

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Schiff Raise Concerns Over Transfer of Health Data for Immigration Raids, Demand End to Sharing of Personal Data

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Schiff Raise Concerns Over Transfer of Health Data for Immigration Raids, Demand End to Sharing of Personal Data

    California Senators Demand Department of Health and Human Services Identify the Authority Used to Share Personal Information from Medicaid with Homeland Security
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) raised the alarm on potential violations of federal privacy laws in the transfer of the personal data of millions of Medicaid recipients to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that could be used to facilitate additional immigration raids furthering the Trump Administration’s mass deportation agenda.
    California is one of seven states that was reportedly targeted by DHS for the disclosure of this personally identifiable data.
    “We are deeply troubled that this administration intends to use individuals’ private health information for the unrelated purpose of possible enforcement actions targeting lawful noncitizens and mixed status families. The decision by HHS to share confidential health information with DHS is a remarkable departure from established federal privacy protections that should alarm all Americans,” wrote the Senators.
    The Senators asked DHS and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to provide details and legal justification for how the sharing of data without individuals’ consent did not violate federal law under the Privacy Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and other regulations guiding the government’s use of personal information, including addresses and private health information.
    The Senators also demanded that DHS destroy any data already shared to prevent any misuse of this personally identifiable information, and to cease these data sharing partnerships with HHS.
    “Authorized access, use, and disclosure of sensitive [personally identifiable information] health data are subject to federal and state laws enacted to protect individuals and their right to privacy,” continued the Senators. “We demand that this administration immediately reverse all actions contrary to existing privacy laws and restore trust and integrity to the Medicaid program.”
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Secretary Kennedy, Secretary Noem, and Administrator Oz:
    We write to you today to express our alarm regarding reports that Trump administration officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ordered the transfer of highly sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) belonging to millions of Medicaid enrollees to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These actions not only raise ethical issues but are contrary to longstanding HHS policy and raise significant concerns about possible violations of federal law under the Privacy Act of 1974, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and the Social Security Act. We demand immediate clarification of the actions taken by HHS officials to provide DHS access to any such data. Additionally, we demand that HHS immediately cease sharing access to such data with DHS, and we request that DHS destroy any and all such data provided on the terms of any information sharing agreement between the agencies.
    According to reports, on June 10, 2025, two senior advisors at HHS ordered the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide Medicaid enrollees’ PII – including addresses, names, social security numbers, and immigration status – to DHS, even though CMS officials made clear that “multiple federal statutory and regulatory authorities do not permit CMS to share this information with entities outside of CMS.”  This comes as the Trump administration continues to target noncitizens. We are deeply troubled that this administration intends to use individuals’ private health information for the unrelated purpose of possible enforcement actions targeting lawful noncitizens and mixed status families. The decision by HHS to share confidential health information with DHS is a remarkable departure from established federal privacy protections that should alarm all Americans.
    We request that you provide the following information by July 9, 2025:
    1. Identify the federal authority or authorities that HHS relied on to share states’ Medicaid data with other federal agencies, including whether it was for the purposes of immigration enforcement.
    2. Identify each state Medicaid program whose data was shared with DHS officials and the total number of Medicaid enrollees whose data was shared, including state-by-state totals.
    3. Identify each type of personal data shared with DHS, such as name, address, and other personally identifiable datapoints.
    4. Provide copies of each written request from DHS regarding the transfer of state Medicaid data to CMS, including the date of each request, the specific information requested, and the justification for DHS needing such information.
    5. Provide detailed information on the method used to transfer state Medicaid data from CMS to DHS.
    6. Provide a copy of a CMS memorandum, dated June 6, 2025, per public reports, signed by Medicaid’s Deputy Director, that outlines legal, regulatory, and ethical prohibitions to sharing state Medicaid data from HHS to DHS.
    a. Include any additional records, such as correspondence within HHS and between HHS and DHS, in response to the June 6, 2025, memorandum regarding the request and ultimate decision to share this data with DHS.
    b. Include a copy of the June 10, 2025, email from HHS directing the transfer of “the data to DHS by 5:30 ET today.” 
    7. Provide a copy of any Memoranda of Understanding or Agreement between HHS and DHS regarding the framework of sharing states’ Medicaid data.
    8. Provide a detailed description of how DHS intends to utilize this information.
    9. Provide a list of all federal, state, and local agencies with existing access to this information and why it is necessary for each agency to have access to such information.
    10. Provide a list of all federal, state, and local agencies that your agencies intend to provide this information to and why it is necessary for each agency to have access to such information.
    Authorized access, use, and disclosure of sensitive PII health data are subject to federal and state laws enacted to protect individuals and their right to privacy. We demand that this administration immediately reverse all actions contrary to existing privacy laws and restore trust and integrity to the Medicaid program.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Slams Energy Secretary for Budget Cuts Gutting American Renewable Energy, Technological Innovation, and Industry

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla Slams Energy Secretary for Budget Cuts Gutting American Renewable Energy, Technological Innovation, and Industry

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to question Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on President Trump’s America-last budget bill that would decimate the renewable energy economy, hamper American innovation and competitiveness with China, and hinder critical industrial development. Padilla called out Wright’s blatant hypocrisy for directly contradicting the three priorities he outlined during his confirmation hearing:
    1. To “unleash American energy at home and abroad to restore energy dominance;”
    2. To “lead the world in innovation and technology breakthroughs;” and
    3. To “build things in America again and remove barriers to progress.”
    Despite his stated support for American energy dominance, Wright’s budget request proposes a 74 percent reduction in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy budget and zeroing out the Wind and Solar Energy Technologies Offices. It also defunds the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, which was authorized in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Padilla emphasized that solar energy was the fastest growing energy source in the world last year, and criticized the Trump Administration for undermining American energy leadership by trying to eliminate the Solar Energy Technologies Offices.
    Padilla blasted Wright for backtracking on his goal to restore American global leadership in technological and science innovation, highlighting the 14 percent cut to the Office of Science and a 57 percent cut to ARPA-E in the Trump Administration’s budget request. He pressed Secretary Wright on his previously stated support for the United States’ national labs — including premier research institutions in California — which Wright has called “crown jewels.” Padilla pushed Wright to preserve federal funding for these labs to protect America’s global competitiveness and national security.
    PADILLA: There seems to be a disconnect between what you say are priorities and your budget requests. It’s already been raised that these reductions would also lead to staff reductions in national labs, which we’ve recognized, you’re on the record, these are premier research institutions. When you came to California, you reaffirmed your commitment to the national labs, and you said that they were important to maintain and secure our “competitive advantage and security.” So unless I got that wrong, how do you expect the United States to lead the world when your budget proposal seeks to decimate our research and development capabilities?
    WRIGHT: It does hurt me to cut expending in science.
    PADILLA: Then don’t do it.
    WRIGHT: I share that passion with you.
    PADILLA: Then don’t do it.
    WRIGHT: I share that passion with you.
    PADILLA: Then don’t even propose it.
    The Department of Energy’s recent cancellation of 24 projects totaling $3.7 billion in investments under the Industrial Demonstrations Program undercut Wright’s commitment to restoring American industrial development. Padilla emphasized that these funds are meant to promote groundbreaking innovation in heavy industries like cement, glass, chemicals, and iron, among others, including three large California industrial projects that support thousands of jobs.
    PADILLA: It’s not just because billions of the public and private dollars are in California and the thousands of jobs related, but how does canceling industrial grants that lead to more industrial jobs further the goal of building things in America again?
    WRIGHT: Because an evaluation showed that the projects at the end were not viable. If we built, there’s no point in building a bridge to nowhere. If you make a factory, make a product 25 percent more expensive, but customers won’t pay 25 percent, where’s the win?
    PADILLA: Well, the projects that are being cut are more than just viable. I would argue they are critical, and we’ll be following up with you.
    Video of Senator Padilla’s questioning of Secretary Wright is available here.
    Earlier this year, Senator Padilla questioned Secretary Wright in a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee nomination hearing amid the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. Padilla called out Wright for his 2023 LinkedIn post denying the link between climate change and the rise in more frequent and severe fires.
    More information on the hearing is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Largest maritime navigation system upgrade in decades

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is making New Zealand more attractive to international shipping lines with the first major investment in navigation services in more than 30 years.

    Land Information Minister Chris Penk says the $28.6 million Budget 2025 funding secures the future of shipping, tourism and the maritime economy – highlighting the Government’s commitment to back economic growth.

    “The investment enables safer and faster access to New Zealand’s ports, keeping trade flowing smoothly and reliably and provides confidence in shipping. This is key as more than 99 percent of our imports and exports move by sea.

    “Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and Maritime New Zealand are working together to create high-tech digital navigation tools based on the global S-100 standard. These tools will make navigation more precise, helping ships save fuel and cut costs while operating in our waters.

    “The initiative will transform how mariners access and use data such as electronic charts, water levels, ocean surface currents and navigational warnings.”

    Associate Transport Minister James Meager says the investment benefits both economic growth and maritime safety.

    “Modern digital maritime data and services will enable freight-efficient, environmentally responsible shipping routes that boost trade and investment across the Pacific.

    “The investment in high-tech infrastructure ensures our maritime and tourism sectors are ready to thrive, while enhancing safety and efficiency.

    “Importantly, it positions New Zealand at the forefront of the shift to digital navigation technology, and signals to the world that we’re serious about supporting innovation, sustainabilitty and welfare at sea.

    “Beyond New Zealand’s coastline, this initiative supports safer, more efficient shipping across our wider maritime region – including Antarctica and South-West Pacific nations such as the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, and Tokelau.

    “As we celebrate Matariki and reflect on New Zealand’s rich cultural history of navigating by the stars, now is the perfect time to look ahead toward building a resilient maritime economy for future generations.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police urge caution on the roads this holiday weekend

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police are reminding road users that there will be zero tolerance for unsafe driving this Matariki Weekend.

    “There was an unacceptable number of road deaths over King’s Birthday weekend, and we don’t want a repeat of that this weekend. If you are driving in a way that puts your own, or someone else’s, safety at risk, expect there to be consequences,” says Director Road Policing, Superintendent Steve Greally.

    “We have zero tolerance for selfish drivers gambling with other people’s lives.”

    Emergency services see first-hand the devastation that dangerous road behaviours cause, and the harm doesn’t end at the scene.

    “One of the hardest parts of our job is knocking on a door in the middle of the night to tell a family that their loved one isn’t coming home,” Superintendent Greally says.

    “Matariki is a time for families to come together and be with each other – please don’t do anything which would prevent that from happening.”

    Police will be out on the country’s roads in increased numbers this weekend, with the clear intention to stop and prevent unsafe driving behaviour, day and night.

    Our officers and road safety partners are undertaking a large amount of work to ensure the safety of everyone on our roads.

    Many of us make long journeys over long weekends. We know that tired drivers make mistakes, so take regular breaks and split the driving with someone if you can.

    Having your seatbelt on, driving to the conditions and not being distracted while driving can be the difference in walking away from a crash or being seriously injured or worse.

    Information on holiday road toll periods can be found here: Safety — Road deaths | Ministry of Transport.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: [Interview] Portals to Memory and Myth: Basim Magdy x Samsung Art TV

    Source: Samsung

     “Time, memory and history must always be revisited and questioned. Art gives us the freedom to do so without constraint.”
    — Basim Magdy, renowned artist
     
    Basim Magdy is a visionary Egyptian artist whose work merges dreamlike imagery with thought-provoking, philosophical narratives. Through layered photography and vibrant, otherworldly visuals, he invites viewers into worlds shaped by memory, myth and speculative futures. Now featured on Samsung Art Store as part of the Art Basel in Basel collection, his distinctive aesthetic brings moments of reflection into daily life.
     

    Magdy’s work reimagines living spaces as portals to imagined futures and poetic memories. Available exclusively on Samsung Art TVs, these pieces blur the line between art and atmosphere to deliver a gallery-quality experience at home. Expert-validated colors reveal every detail of his layered textures and experimental techniques — encouraging deeper engagement and sparking conversation.

     
    Samsung Newsroom sat down with Magdy to explore his creative process and the transformative power of art in everyday environments.
     
    ▲ Artist Basim Magdy poses at Samsung ArtCube at Art Basel in Basel.
     
     
    Partnerships, Presence and Possibilities
    Q: How has Art Basel in Basel played a role in your career?
     
    For over a decade, I’ve attended Art Basel in Basel every year — it continues to be one of the most exciting and inspiring art events for me. A recent highlight was having a large-scale photographic work presented in Art Basel Unlimited in 2022.
     
    This year, alongside the presentation of my work at the Samsung ArtCube lounge, I’m exhibiting expanded photography with Gypsum Gallery (Cairo) and paintings with hunt kastner (Prague).
     
    ▲ “An Intergalactic Messenger Teleported us to a Cave Settlement Ruled by Shared Compassion and Humility” (2022) by Basim Magdy
     
     
    Q: What led to your partnership with Samsung Art Store for this year’s Art Basel in Basel?
     
    It happened naturally. I was drawn to the idea of my work existing in a different context — one where it could reach new audiences including those who may not typically visit galleries or museums but who are still curious about art.
     
     
    Reframing Time Through Art
    Q: How did your visual and conceptual style develop into something both surreal and poetic?
     
    It took years of curiosity, experimentation and a desire to create a visual language that reflects who I am. Both poetry and the strange layers of reality have long shaped my thinking. Over time, my style evolved as I explored different artistic tools and mediums. Creating something surreal and poetic has allowed me to propose new ideas and reinterpret familiar ones in unexpected ways.
     
    “Art expresses what can’t be said in words.”
    — Basim Magdy, contemporary artist
     
    Q: Storytelling, memory and imagined futures are recurring themes in your art. What drives your interest in these narratives?
     
    I’ve become increasingly interested in how we perceive time. I think that awareness deepens with age — the realization that each passing moment is gone and what lies ahead will be different yet oddly familiar.
     
    Though time is a construct, its rhythms — like sunrises and sunsets — form the backdrop of our lives. History shapes how we understand the past and determines how memories are kept alive — an incredibly subjective process, often told through one point of view.
     
    That’s what fascinates me. It raises questions about what gets recorded and what was deemed unworthy of preservation. What about the countless lives that pass without being remembered or documented? Time, memory and history must always be revisited and questioned. Art gives us the freedom to do so without constraint.
     
     
    Art Without Rules, Technology Without Limits
    Q: Your media include chemically altered film and layered photography. How do you preserve their texture and nuance when translating these physical processes into digital formats for display?
     
    The urge to experiment is what drives me to work across different media. It’s rooted in asking questions and pushing limits. Translating analog processes into digital form is one of those explorations — and with it comes the challenge of maintaining texture, depth and complexity.
     
    ▲ Artist Basim Magdy is well known for his fusion of dreamlike imagery with thought-provoking, philosophical narratives.
     
     
    Q: With technology playing a bigger role in creating and experiencing art, how has it shaped your creative process or your approach to audience engagement?
     
    Technology is evolving constantly, and with it, the way we experience the world — not just art. Today, reality often exists simultaneously in physical space and on screens. In the end, I think my lived experiences — whether encountered in real life or on a screen — inform my art just as much as my imagination does.
     
    For me, art expresses what can’t be said in words. Technology is largely shaped by scientific research that operates within defined rules and systems. Art, on the other hand, is free from those constraints — so when artists engage with new technologies, the results are often surprising.
     
    ▲ Basim Magdy experiences the new Art Basel in Basel Collection at Samsung ArtCube.
     
     
    From Exhibition to Everyday
    Q: Your work is now featured on Samsung Art Store and displayed in homes around the world. How does being part of someone’s everyday environment shift your perspective on your art?
     
    It’s humbling. We each experience art through our own lens — shaped by who we are and where we’ve been. I hope my work resonates in ways that invite thought, emotion or a quiet moment of connection. For me, that kind of unspoken, personal response is the most fulfilling outcome.
     
     
    Q: Samsung Art Store turns a screen into a gallery. How do you feel your work resonates differently in a digital home setting compared to a traditional gallery or museum?
     
    Seeing art in a gallery or a museum is still ideal — but it’s also limited. A piece only exists in one place and not everyone can travel to see it, especially if it’s halfway across the world.
     
    Samsung Art Store offers a more intimate way to experience art. Someone can engage with a piece they connect with at their own pace, free from the limitations of gallery hours or institutional settings. The platform also gives access to audiences who may not have a chance to view my work through traditional means.
     
    Digital representations of art continue to evolve — and so do the ways we engage with them. I look forward to a future where we can project fully detailed images into space and where the digital experience of art might one day include touch, texture or even scent.
     
    “[Through Samsung Art Store, one] can engage with a piece at their own pace, free from the limitations of gallery hours or institutional settings.”
    — Basim Magdy, contemporary artist
     
    Q: If someone is encountering your work for the first time through Samsung Art Store in their home, what would you like them to notice or feel?
     
    I hope they experience something that stays with them — whether it’s a thought, feeling or subtle moment of curiosity. The way someone connects to art is deeply individual, and I try not to shape or influence that. It’s more meaningful when that sense of intimacy is preserved.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 60 million yuan allocated for flood recovery in Guangdong province

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) — China’s National Development and Reform Commission on Wednesday said it has allocated 60 million yuan (about 8.36 million U.S. dollars) from the country’s central budget to support south China’s Guangdong Province in flood relief.

    The funds will be used to restore infrastructure and public service facilities in affected areas of Guangdong Province.

    Severe floods have hit Guangdong Province recently, with the area around Zhaoqing City suffering the worst damage. According to official data, as of midday on Wednesday, June 18, 300,000 residents of Huaiji County, which is under Zhaoqing City, were affected by the disaster, with 70,000 people evacuated to safe areas. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Royal fern is a royal pain

    Source: NZ Department of Conservation

    Date:  19 June 2025

    Royal fern can colonise natural areas rapidly, growing up to 2 m high, and crowding out native species in already pressured wetlands and swamps. A deciduous fern, the bright green paper-thin fronds turn yellow and rusty orange in autumn, and each plant produces thousands of tiny spores easily spread by the wind, birds, and humans.

    Surveillance and control work in partnership with iwi, landowners and regional councils is happening in Taranaki, Waikato, Rotorua, and Northland. Susan Emmitt, Technical Advisor at DOC, says despite the intensive work, the fern is still spreading.

    “Royal fern is still being found in new places, as the spores disperse over long distances allowing new plants to establish in remote areas,” says Susan.

    “The fern has been targeted for eradication in Northland, and is being controlled in the Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, and Auckland. To try and halt its spread, we’ve drawn a containment line roughly halfway down the North Island.

    “We’re asking the public to report any sightings of the plant south of this line.”

    Royal fern is challenging to remove, as it thrives in wetland sites which are difficult to access on foot.

    “It can be dug out, roots and all, but this is slow and very labour intensive. We’re working alongside field teams to find the most efficient control methods.

    “It’s very easy to spread the spores around when we’re clearing the area, so we wear gloves and disposable overalls, and carefully double or triple-bag the fertile fronds once they’ve been cut. We also have rigorous decontamination procedures, so we don’t accidentally spread them from one site to another.”

    Drones are a valuable tool in the control of the invasive fern.

    “The distinct bright green leaves are easily visible from the air in wetlands, so we can use drones to monitor existing or treated sites,” says Susan. “This saves a lot of time and effort, letting us work faster and more effectively.”

    Autumn and early winter are the perfect time to spot this plant; royal fern fronds change colour in autumn, making the plants stand out. Members of the public are being asked to report sightings of royal fern from the Bay of Plenty and Taranaki southwards via iNaturalist or info@doc.govt.nz, including a photo and location.

    “Nature is in trouble, but all of us can help protect our species and habitats. Reporting royal fern is a small action to make a big difference; thanks to a report at Farewell Spit in March 2024, the site was able to be treated immediately and prevent a potentially catastrophic invasion.”

    Background information

    Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) is an Unwanted Organism under the Biosecurity Act 1993. This wetland weed has been targeted for eradication in Northland, and is being controlled in the Bay of Plenty and Auckland under the Regional Pest Management plans.

    It has spread southwards over the past few decades. Our surveillance operation aims to gain a better understanding of the southern distribution of royal fern with the aim of controlling and containing its spread and protecting high priority sites.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 62 percent fewer scam texts reported after Internal Affairs crackdown

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has made significant progress in tackling scams in New Zealand, with a 62 per cent drop in reports of SMS scams in 2024 from 2023, following the Department’s investigations into scammers.
    The Department’s 2024 Digital Messaging Transparency Report, published this week, details some of the actions the Department has taken to catch people perpetrating scams, including by conducting search warrants and seizing equipment.
    “Scams cause serious financial and emotional harm, often preying on vulnerable people in our communities. I’m pleased the Department’s work is making a real impact in reducing scams and holding perpetrators accountable,” says Ms van Velden.
    In 2024 the Department received over 103,000 reports of SMS scams, conducted six search warrants, and seized almost $400,000 worth of scam equipment as well as $162,000 in cash. One of the search warrants resulted in the arrest of a 19-year-old Auckland man and the seizure of a cell site simulator. A cell site simulator is a false cell tower which tricks nearby mobile devices into connecting to the fraudulent network so that scam text messages can be sent to the connected phones.
    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson, who is the lead anti-scams Minister, welcomes the report’s findings and highlights the Government’s increasing focus on keeping New Zealanders safer from scammers.
    “Online financial scams cause significant harm to New Zealanders – reported losses have been nearly $200 million a year, but some estimate this to be as high as $2 billion. Often scams affect the more vulnerable people in our community and our loved ones. We are taking action to change this. I intend to make announcements in due course on further work we intend to do to reduce scams across New Zealand,” says Mr Simpson.
    “The prevalence of scams also hurts the wider economy, as people become less comfortable with transacting online. Building back people’s trust by reducing scams is part of rebuilding the economy and reducing the cost of living,” says Ms van Velden.
    The report is available at: https://www.dia.govt.nz/Spam-Transparency-reports

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Getting more trainee teachers into rural schools

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government’s ensuring some of New Zealand’s most isolated schools get the pipeline of teachers they need to teach the basics brilliantly.

    “For most new teachers, school placements play a significant role in deciding where they choose to teach once they qualify as a teacher. We know rural and isolated schools struggle to fill these rolls. This Government is helping address that so more children benefit from excellent teachers in the classroom,” Education Minister Erica Stanford says.

    $494,000 will fund “Go Rural: Isolated Placements Fund” – an initiative that contributes to the costs student teachers incur. Up to 123 student teachers in their final year of study will be eligible for a payment of $4,000 to take up a professional experience placement in a rural or isolated school.

    “We know students’ factor in additional accommodation, childcare and travel costs for when they choose where they undertake their placement. This investment will make it easier for them to take up placements in some of our most unique communities.

    Applications for the fund will be available in early 2026.

    “This is just one of several initiatives we have put in place to ensure more Kiwi kids benefit from quality teaching and leadership in the classroom. Through Budget 2025 we are expanding the School Onsite Training Programme (SOTP) by 530 places, supporting up to 800 teachers to access an Aspiring Principal Programme and funding approximately 115,000 teacher registrations and practicing certificates.

    “We are committed to supporting our incredible teachers. By growing the skills and knowledge in our workforce, our tamariki have the very best chance to thrive at school and beyond,” Ms Stanford says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Pacific – Republic of Nauru becomes first Pacific country to launch digital asset regulator

    Source: Republic of Nauru

     

    In a landmark move for the Pacific region, the Nauru Parliament on Tuesday June 17 passed legislation to establish a dedicated virtual asset regulatory authority. 

     

    The Bill establishes the Command Ridge Virtual Asset Authority (CRVAA), named after the highest point of land in Nauru, as an autonomous regulator overseeing virtual assets, digital banking, and Web3 innovation. 

     

    It will provide a licencing scheme that will allow virtual asset service providers (VASPs) to register and offer their services using Nauru as a base.

     

    Nauru President David Adeang said the regulation would pave the way for Nauru to be a digital asset leader in the region and is another step towards strengthening financial integrity, investing in future generations, and forging new pathways for resilience.

     

    He pointed out that Nauru is one of the Pacific’s most at-risk nations, acknowledged under the United Nations Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), for its heightened exposure to economic and environmental shocks, and that the Government needed to embrace innovation. 

     

    “This bold step aims to harness the potential of virtual assets to diversify revenue streams and fortify economic resilience,” he said.

     

    “By implementing robust oversight of VASPs, Nauru aims to foster sustainable growth, channel new financial inflows into strategic instruments such as its Intergenerational Trust Fund, and reduce its reliance on climate financing, which is often challenging to secure.”

     

    The President said Nauru aspires to secure a more sustainable and self-reliant economic future.

     

    “We want to be a government of solutions and innovation, be proactive not passive, and positively approach the future with boldness,” he said.

     

    Minister for Commerce and Foreign Investment Maverick Eoe told Parliament that more countries are recognising the potential of virtual assets from blockchain technologies to decentralised finance.

     

    “This Bill proposes to introduce a framework that will put Nauru on par with other countries leading in the development of their digital economies and generating revenue from such developments,” he said. 

     

    “The licensing framework….ensures Nauru becomes a competitor, attracting businesses that bring investment, job creation, and financial innovation,” he said.

     

    “By regulating VASPs, token issuance, and secure digital transactions, we can position Nauru as a hub for these types of innovation and development within this part of the world.

     

    He said the legislation is a commitment to the future prosperity of the country and a statement that Nauru does not fear the digital transformation, but embraces it and leads within the Pacific region. 

     

    CRVAA will be tasked with ensuring cybersecurity standards, monitoring financial transactions and enforcing compliance with international anti-money laundering and financial transparency protocols.

     

    The Bill, which provides unmatched legal certainty for the token-issuer, introduces a groundbreaking token classification system that provides long-awaited clarity for the global crypto industry, stating that:

     

    • Cryptocurrencies are presumed commodities, not securities;
    • Utility and payment tokens are excluded from investment contract status;
    • Governance and reward tokens are protected from misclassification

     

    The Nauru law defines the activities subject to CRA authorisation as follows:

     

    • Operation of centralised or decentralised virtual asset platforms
    • Exchange services between virtual assets and/or fiat currencies
    • Custodial and non-custodial virtual asset wallet services
    • Issuance of virtual tokens, including ICOs, STOs, and NFTs
    • Lending, staking, yield farming, and decentralised finance (DeFi) services
    • Stablecoin issuance and cross-border payment solutions
    • Operation of digital banks and digital payment platforms
    • Issuance and management of E-money.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Exercise NZ – International Yoga Day 2025: Yoga’s Timeless Path to Well-being

    Source: Exercise NZ

    Saturday, June 21st, marks International Yoga Day,  a global celebration of one of the world’s oldest and most holistic forms of movement and mindfulness. With origins dating back over 5,000 years in India, yoga has transcended borders and generations to become a powerful global movement with over 300 million people practising worldwide today.

    Research-based evidence continues to grow, supporting the notion that yoga benefits all aspects of our overall well-being, including mental, emotional, social, and physical health. Encouragingly, yoga participation in Aotearoa remains steady,  a reflection of its lasting appeal and value. Increasingly, Kiwis are recognising that the true benefits of yoga unfold through consistent, ongoing practice. As one of the most effective, accessible, and sustainable paths to overall well-being, yoga offers long-term rewards for those who embrace it as part of their lifestyle. With different styles and methods of practice, it is a modality that can be incorporated into any life stage or capacity. International Yoga Day is a wonderful starting point and an invitation to make yoga a regular, enriching part of everyday life.

    Research consistently promotes the potential health benefits related to the regular practice of yoga, such as improvements in mood, focus, and resilience. A Harvard Medical School article notes that yoga can be as effective as standard exercise in reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, with added benefits to brain function, heart rate variability, and emotional balance. The same review highlights how yoga practice increases thickness in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, areas of the brain tied to memory and learning. Additionally, further research in Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience confirms yoga’s positive effects on brain structure and function, particularly in areas related to self-awareness and emotional regulation.

    Why Yoga Works: Evidence-Based Benefits

    Yoga can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by up to 40%
    Regular practice improves sleep, focus, and heart rate variability
    Yoga enhances flexibility, balance, and core strength, reducing the risk of injury
    Long-term practice supports emotional regulation and mental clarity
    Yoga may increase brain volume in key areas related to cognition and memory

    This International Yoga Day, ExerciseNZ and YogaNZ invite you to go beyond a single day of practice and consider how yoga could become a lasting part of your life. Take a moment to pause, breathe deeply, and move with intention. Whether you’re stepping into a studio, unrolling your mat at home, or trying yoga for the first time, you’re joining a global movement toward greater wellbeing, mindfulness, and inner peace.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Mark Kenny, Democracy Sausage, Australian National University podcast

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Mark Kenny:

    G’day there and welcome to Democracy Sausage from the Australian National University. I’m Mark Kenny director of ANU’s Australian Studies Institute and I’m delighted to welcome back to Democracy Sausage federal Treasurer, Jim Chalmers. G’day there Jim.

    Jim Chalmers:

    It’s nice to see you again, Mark, thanks for having me back on your podcast.

    Kenny:

    It’s a great pleasure. There’s a fair bit happening in the world, it seems like the pace of events is such really, I don’t know. You have spoken about this, written about it a few times as well, the rate of change, the number of events that are happening globally and the significance of them and the combination of them. I think and the way things tend to sort of – we end up with these compound problems, don’t we, or compound challenges. I wonder how tiring that is for you but also how in a sense it makes things feel like they are moving so fast.

    Take the election for example, a big moment in Australia and a huge historic result as you were, I think, at some pains to grapple with as the numbers tumbled out on election night as you were sitting there on the ABC. But the election itself even seems – even though the 48th parliament hasn’t sat yet – the election feels likes it was quite a while ago now.

    Chalmers:

    Old news.

    Kenny:

    It’s extraordinary, isn’t it?

    Chalmers:

    It really is.

    Kenny:

    And not in a good way necessarily because most of these events we’re talking about aren’t things that we would automatically dial‑in if we could. Wars breaking out and various calamities, environmental and so forth. How does it feel to you? Does it feel to you like, in politics now, there’s this sense that governments age more quickly because of, just the sort of cadence of events and exposure, and having to explain it and navigate it all?

    Chalmers:

    It feels almost exactly as you’ve described it, the pace of change and churn is accelerating. And in my part of the shop I think about the fact that even in the last not even 2 decades we’ve had 4 major economic shocks now – a GFC, COVID, an inflation shock and now the shock that comes from these escalating trade and geopolitical tensions. And so the world is moving fast, the global economy is in lots of ways a perilous place because of this cascading change that we’re seeing that we need to respond to.

    And so I do feel like our responsibility really in this environment is, there’s an element of making our economy more resilient in the face of all this uncertainty and volatility but also a sense of working out how do we make our people, our economy, a beneficiary of all this churn and change.

    It would be naive I think to assume that this change is temporary, short term and that we will return to some long period of normalcy like we saw after the end of the Cold War. And so this really dominates our thinking – the international environment, the pace of change, the way that change is accelerating really is the primary influence on the way we think about this second term.

    Kenny:

    Yeah you have written about this in the past. You’ve got a reputation, quite rightly, as a thinker and someone who reads a lot and thinks a lot about the big historical trends and the forces that are happening underneath it. How do you reflect on that period that you talked about – that you just made reference to – the period after the Cold War? Of course we always hear it described as framed by the end of history argument and all of that. Now sort of, I suppose, what are we, quarter of a century after the 90s have ended. How do we look back on that now? How do you look back on it?

    Chalmers:

    Well I look at it in sort of 3 periods. There’s the period from the end of the Second World War to the end of the Cold War.

    Kenny:

    Which we are saying is about sort of ‘89, ‘90 that sort of time.

    Chalmers:

    Yeah, that’s right. And you know momentous change in that period, dominated by the Cold War essentially. Then you had the end of the Cold War until the GFC, and others have described that as the Great Moderation.

    Kenny:

    I suppose you’d say until September 11 though wouldn’t you almost –

    Chalmers:

    Yeah in security terms, you’ll forgive me for having sort of an economic lens –

    Kenny:

    – an economic frame, yeah.

    Chalmers:

    But sure in the first decade of the 2000s, the world changed dramatically and the thing for us as Australians is we were among the primary beneficiaries of that period of moderation between the end of the Cold War and the early 2000s. We, the Australian economy, partly by choice, by intelligent policy choices in the ‘80s and ‘90s but also the way that the world was structured was very beneficial for Australia.

    And now we think about these 4 shocks in 2 decades and also against the backdrop of all of this technological change, demographic change, our industrial base is changing and the world is fragmenting. And so now we have to work out collectively, not just as a government but as Australians, how do we become the primary beneficiaries of all of this churn and change in the same way that we were the primary beneficiaries of that period of calm from the end of the Cold War.

    Kenny:

    Yeah, because during that period I suppose the rules held. There was a thing called the international rules‑based order, there was a sense in which there was at least a predictability about the framing of whatever might happen. Whereas now we don’t have that. We have this sort of sense of, particularly with the US being in a sense the chief architect and enforcer of that international order, having itself begun to walk away from it in quite dramatic ways, economic ways of course with tariffs and everything which we can come to.

    But that really – on top of things like pandemics and financial crises and the like – it really makes it, it means that we basically now have what replaced the predictability of the rules is the unpredictability of what follows, almost as a permanent dynamic.

    Chalmers:

    I think that’s a good way to describe it. Unpredictability is a good way of thinking even about these trade tensions that we’ve got right now because from day‑to‑day, week‑to‑week, the state of the negotiation between the US and China is changing. It’s the unpredictability that is making people wary, making investors wary and decision makers wary. It’s the sense of a lack of stability and predictability, I think as you rightly point out.

    And we’ve got this big fragmentation in the world and we shouldn’t over‑interpret that but we shouldn’t under‑interpret it either. The world is fragmenting, it has a huge influence on how we think about our own economy. And again it’s against these – we’ve got all these short term volatility – we see the gold price, the oil price bouncing around, stock markets have been bouncing around before and since so‑called Liberation Day, but that kind of masks a bigger structural change in the global economy.

    There’s a big change in the way that the world conducts its business now. And the responsibility on us as decision makers in government, but also in the private sector and the community more broadly, is to work out how do we make our people beneficiaries of that rather than victims of it.

    Kenny:

    And as you said in the early 2000s for example we were in a very good position to be beneficiaries. I remember covering budgets during that time and they were constantly framed by revenue upgrades, mostly from resources, and the budget was constantly in better shape than it was predicted to be.

    Now we are talking about a different world, much less predictable one. But I think I’ve heard you say, and I put the question to you I suppose rhetorically but where would you rather be in the circumstance that we’re in now, would it be Australia or somewhere else? We are still pretty well positioned.

    Chalmers:

    For sure. I hope it’s not talking out of school, but when Governor Phil Lowe and I used to go to these G20 conferences and we would sit there and we’d – when we were speaking in between the sessions or having a cup of tea or something we’d say, we’d look around the room and you’d say, who would you rather be in this group than us. And it’s an important bit of perspective and what I try to do in the speech at the National Press Club is to say we shouldn’t choose between these false binaries.

    There’s a bunch of people that will always talk the economy down. There’s a bunch of people – and maybe politicians are sometimes guilty of this – who will only ever talk the place up. Let’s just put it into its proper perspective.

    Australia in lots of ways is outperforming the world. The fact that we’ve got inflation down, while keeping unemployment low, we’ve got real wages growing again, the combination of things that we’ve got in our economy is something that a lot of our peer countries would like to see in their own economies. And we can recognise that at the same time as we can recognise our economy is not productive enough, the budget needs to be more sustainable, we need to be more resilient in the face of all this global uncertainty that you and I are talking about today.

    And so I think it’s not just possible to have those views simultaneously, it’s imperative that we do. That we have the proper perspective about our economy. Our economy in global terms is performing quite well, particularly our labour market, which in lots of ways to me is the most important thing, how people are actually earning and providing for their loved ones –

    Kenny:

    It’s like how the economy works for people.

    Chalmers:

    It’s the people‑facing part of the economy matters the most to me. And in some of those areas it’s been extraordinary, we’ve got the lowest average unemployment of any government in the last 50 years, at the same time as we’ve got inflation down and got real wages up.

    So it’s a long way of saying, let’s have some perspective about the economy. I’m going to try and get better at saying here is all the things that are going really well that we’re really pleased about, here are the things where we need to be doing better if we want to lift living standards for people in our country. Productivity, budget sustainability, resilience in the world, these are the things where we can acknowledge and work together on making things better.

    Kenny:

    Well let’s go to that productivity thing, because the Prime Minister recently at the Press Club and then you in the speech to the Press Club as well talking about productivity. And I think you have made the point before that the first term, how did you put it, the first term was basically –

    Chalmers:

    Primarily.

    Kenny:

    – primarily about fighting inflation but with an eye to productivity and the second term is about lifting productivity with an eye to keeping inflation under control. Is that sort of broadly what you were saying?

    Chalmers:

    Yeah it is, and I said that the morning after the election on the Insiders panel. I’d sat kind of in one corner of the ABC studio for about 6 or 7 hours in the evening and rocked up to the other corner of the studio in the morning. And that is how I see it.

    Kenny:

    Imagine what it’s like for David Speers.

    Chalmers:

    Exactly. I guess the point that I’m trying to make is we already have a productivity agenda. It’s substantial, it’s ambitious. But the bulk of our first term was about fighting inflation. And in the second term I think we still care about inflation, cost of living, real wages, still a huge focus of us but we will focus more on productivity, more on the supply side of the economy.

    When we talk about productivity, I think it’s important to remember it comes back to what we were just saying about the labour market more broadly. Productivity can come across as this kind of cold and soulless concept. It’s about how efficiently we use inputs to create outputs in our economy.

    Kenny:

    Is it widely understood, do you think, in the electorate when politicians and economists talk about productivity? What’s your – you’re an MP right, you represent people, you have your own electorate, you’re dealing with constituents all the time, right. What’s the general understanding of this as a term?

    Chalmers:

    It’s not a word that people use when they bail you up at Coles or Woolies. I acknowledge that. But it’s really the most important thing that will deliver higher living standards for people. And so I try not to think of productivity as that cold and soulless concept. Productivity is about a more dynamic economy, which lifts living standards, and a more dynamic society where we create more opportunities for more of our people.

    And what I’m trying to do is I’m trying to broaden the national policy and political conversation beyond the tired old fights over things like industrial relations. Productivity is about how we adapt and adopt technology, it’s how we transform our energy resources, it’s about making our businesses more competitive, it’s about the care economy, it’s about human capital, how we invest in people.

    Kenny:

    A lot of these things are things that as you say, they’re good, everyone would agree they’re all public goods. They’re things that should happen and so forth. Many of them – particularly if we think about human capital and getting more from people because they can contribute more and that adds to dynamism in the economy and creativity and opportunities all those brilliant things – but in a sense they’re long‑term investments that are required aren’t they?

    We are sitting here in a university. University education and training, obviously been a strong priority of the government. But it needs that’s the – I guess what I’m getting at is these aren’t things that you can just sort of flick a switch and make happen, right. They take long‑term planning and thinking and commitment and funding.

    Chalmers:

    Well 2 things about that. I mean, first of all there are 2 visions for productivity. And this is not the place for partisan reflections but there’s a view that says we’ll only get productivity if we make people work harder and longer for less. That is essentially our political opponent’s view of productivity.

    We think we’ll get productivity if we invest in people, their ability to adapt and adopt technology in a more modern economy. And so the way that our opponents think about productivity, that will never be our jam. That will never be – that’s not what we are on about.

    We are not trying to screw down people’s wages and working conditions. We think there’s a better way to go about it. But I think you’re absolutely bang on when you talk about – I think of it as the delayed gratification when it comes to productivity policy. There are some elements of economic policy where you get a bang for your buck sooner.

    Productivity is one of those things you got to chip away at and I’ve tried to point out, there’s not one thing as you rightly say, you can’t just flick one switch. If there was one switch we could flick somebody would have flicked it already to make our economy more productive. You’ve got to chip away, you’ve got to have a broader idea of productivity and you’ve got to work with people and bring people together. And that’s what we intend to do.

    Kenny:

    Let’s take a quick break and be back in a moment. Welcome back. I’m talking with Treasurer Jim Chalmers, ANU alum, among many things. Dr Chalmers, the productivity matter we were just talking about, there’s going to be this roundtable, the Prime Minister has announced, and you’ve spoken about at the Press Club as well.

    Obviously, the criticism that people will make if they want to will be another talk fest. We see these from time to time. From what I understand you’re girding against this, you’re trying to design it in ways that will mean that it has to deliver something more than kind of rhetoric and disagreement in a sense.

    Chalmers:

    Exactly right. I mean first of all I acknowledge it’s kind of unusual to have the Prime Minister and the Treasurer at the National Press Club 8 days apart but it’s deliberate. Because what we’re trying to do is in the Prime Minister’s great speech that he gave at the Press Club. And what I’m trying to do as well, is to say we’ve got a big agenda, it’s ambitious, our priority is delivering what we took to the election but we’ve got an obligation to work out what comes next.

    And the best way to do that, the tone that Anthony sets in our government is to try and do that together. And I know when you bring people together there will always be an element of people who want to say that it’s failed before it’s even happened. And it might be that people bring the same old talking points and maybe progress is hard to come by. But that’s not a reason not to have a crack at it and see where there might be common ground.

    Kenny:

    There’s an acceptance right across the board that productivity is an issue. That lifting productivity is the ticket to higher living standards and to insulating the economy as well against some of these external shocks. So it’s a good starting place, but then you get as you say, people sort of usually retreating in to certain camps defending their position and looking for gains from others.

    Chalmers:

    There might be a bit of that but let’s see how far we can get if we don’t take that approach. I think broadly people do understand it would be better if our economy was more productive, our budget more sustainable and that we are more resilient in a world that is as uncertain as it is.

    I think that is broadly understood and what I want to try to do at this roundtable is to go beyond problem ID into ideas. I want people to bring specific things and I want them to help build consensus, not just leave it to the government to build consensus.

    Kenny:

    So in other words within the framework of this round table you are looking for people to be talking to each other?

    Chalmers:

    Each other yeah.

    Kenny:

    So that the unions for example talking with employers. And together perhaps agreeing on something they can agree on, which will shift the needle as they say.

    Chalmers:

    And there are so many areas where this is so important. I mean technology, artificial intelligence is going to be a game changer in our economy.

    Kenny:

    It is for everyone right.

    Chalmers:

    Yeah and we need to work together to work out how do we get the best version of that. And so that is our hope and let’s be blunt about it, it remains to be seen how much appetite there is for that. But I think we owe it to ourselves to try to work out where there’s common ground. That’s what the round table is all about.

    People have been terrific about it in the conversations I’ve had with them so far, already there’s a heap of interest. People will be able to feed in, even if they’re not in the Cabinet room that week and so I think it’s set up to succeed, it remains to be seen whether it will.

    Kenny:

    So we’re going to be looking for the productivity of the productivity roundtable.

    Chalmers:

    That’s right, or we’ll get the Productivity Commission to measure it.

    Kenny:

    Yeah because it’s not – you can’t measure it just by butchers paper can you, and annoying‑smelling textas. It’s literally about, I mean the term people often use is concrete, but what’s substantive or concrete comes from it, and can actually result in policy changes. And you’re confident that that can actually achieve something?

    Chalmers:

    I’m confident about that. We’ve got a big agenda on productivity, even this week the Cabinet agreed some next steps. We’ve got the Productivity Commission working on a bunch of stuff. We really have everything we need to succeed except consensus and I hope that seeking consensus is not a naive undertaking. I feel cautiously confident that we can make some progress but it remains to be seen.

    Kenny:

    Consensus of course was the big word in the 1980s with Bob Hawke in particular and the summits that were held and so forth. And we know of course Kevin Rudd had his 2020 – I can’t remember what it was called exactly.

    Chalmers:

    2020 Summit I believe.

    Kenny:

    I think it was summit. This is much more, I suppose surgical in a sense.

    Chalmers:

    Deliberately. We did the Jobs and Skills Summit at the start of our government and I don’t like how that’s been caricatured, the outcomes of that. I actually think we made a lot of progress then.

    But rather than hundreds of people in the room, we will host a small group in the Cabinet room. We won’t do a lot of problem ID, the problem is broadly understood. We want people to bring their ideas. We want them to be responsible and realistic about that. We want them to see the whole chessboard when it comes to our national economy, not just their own kind of specific narrow interests.

    Kenny:

    Yeah because that’s always the frustration for governments isn’t it, it’s all very well for various interests to be pushing their position and perhaps that’s the way our economy and our society has been set up. But our governments have to try to look at the whole – as you say – chessboard, and figure out the implications of each of those moves and what it does to the whole.

    Chalmers:

    And even in budget terms, it’s very easy to call for huge tax cuts. It’s very easy to call for huge new outlays in one area or another. I don’t dismiss people who call for those things but we have to make it all add up at the end of the day. And so hopefully the kind of guidance we give people about how they approach this opportunity in the Cabinet room in the second half of August, hopefully people take that seriously. I think we will make more progress if they do.

    Kenny:

    Yeah. Now I mentioned before how you were there on election night and you were watching the events unfold. Do you think in the frame of what we have just been talking about the fact that it is such a stonking majority that the government has. And whilst it’s not impossible for the government to be turfed out at the next election, it’s not impossible but it doesn’t seem very likely to anyone who has been watching the game for a long time.

    I mean it is just, that would be such a dramatic turnaround from the current situation. I’m not asking you to comment on that particularly but what I am interested in is whether that changes the dynamic in a thing like this productivity roundtable and in the way generally people are looking at things. There’s a sort of a, I think a level of predictability, about who it is that these interests groups will be dealing with for this term and probably the next. Is that an opportunity for everyone?

    Chalmers:

    First of all, I don’t believe that a third term is assured. I don’t think those assurances –

    Kenny:

    I know you have to say it and I agree.

    Chalmers:

    No, no I believe it. There’s no assurances in politics. There’s no assurances in politics. I do think that there is a sense of relief that the election’s resolved and resolved decisively. I do think that there’s an element of that in the broader community and in the stakeholders I deal with. A little bit of an element of predictability in a very unpredictable world to join up where we began this conversation. So there is, I think that.

    For us, you mentioned sitting on the set on election night. The kind of 3 stages I progressed through were firstly surprise, secondly relief. An overwhelming sense of relief. And then thirdly most importantly a sense of gratitude and the reason I mentioned that sense of gratitude is because whether this government has 3 more years to live or 6 more years to live, I am more determined than I’ve ever been to make the most of the opportunity.

    Because when you think about where we were at at the end of 2024, it was conceivable that we could lose the election and the clarifying impact of that when you think about the clock is ticking on all of us. The clarifying impact of what could have been a close run thing but turned out to be a decisive thing. Surprised, relieved and grateful and determined to make the most of this opportunity for however long it lasts.

    Kenny:

    James McGrath, who you were on with, seemed to be moving through those stages slightly more slowly. His weren’t identical stages, they were the opposite I suppose. But he took some time it seemed to me to accept what the numbers were saying. But nonetheless as you say it was a very dramatic night. Just dwelling on that for a moment, how did you feel or how do you feel now reflecting on the sort of brutality of the way your fellow Queenslander Peter Dutton was ejected from politics altogether in that process? There’s a finality about it.

    Chalmers:

    First of all, on James, I genuinely felt for James. We’ve lost our share of national elections too and it’s just, it dawns on you at some point that you’ve got to do opposition for another 3 years and it’s a horrendous –

    Kenny:

    Slog.

    Chalmers:

    So I respect James and I felt for him sitting next to him, and it was a rugged night for him. Yeah, the brutality of 2 leaders of 2 of the 4 biggest parties in the parliament hit the fence on election night. That’s an extraordinary thing. And a brutal thing.

    The thing you will notice, I hope you notice, is I don’t dance on anyone’s political grave. I think politics is tough enough as it is when you’re in it that you shouldn’t dump on people when they’re out of it. And there’s a psychological thing about your own local community telling you they don’t want you anymore, I can only imagine that that is especially rugged for him. But I don’t want to dance on his political grave.

    I hope he doesn’t mind me saying that I’ve been in touch with him since he lost. We had a friendly exchange. He played politics as hard as anyone, if not harder than most. And so we acknowledge that too but I genuinely wish him well and his family. Politics is hard yards for everyone and to be disposed of with that level of brutality I can only imagine is really tough.

    Kenny:

    Yeah. I think it should be said that people who dealt with him, with Peter Dutton at a personal level, his colleagues. And he was popular at a personal level because there was a warmth about him and I’ve certainly said this in things I’ve written in the past as well. He was as you say, a very hard political player but he wasn’t like some other leaders that I won’t mention that weren’t particularly popular with their colleagues. Nonetheless, an extraordinarily badly‑designed campaign, it’s just unbelievable.

    Look in the brief amount of time we’ve got left, can I explore this idea that the Prime Minister has used a bit and you’ve used in your speech as well, made reference to this idea of progressive patriotism. I’m quite fascinated by this. I think the idea that the political right has had a mortgage on patriotism in the past I think is wrong. But it’s an ill‑defined concept at least or it’s a work in progress. How would you frame it?

    Chalmers:

    First of all you’re being characteristically humble, Mark, in not pointing out to all of your listeners that you have been grappling with, publicly, with some of these concepts for some time. I have listened to you and read you with interest in the past about this concept about patriotism. And really what Anthony is talking about when he talks about progressive patriotism is this sense that we can have Australian answers to these very difficult global questions.

    His progressive patriotism is really about Australian exceptionalism. It’s about the fact that we’ve built together, not just governments, but as a country, we’ve built together Medicare and superannuation, and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and all these sorts of things, which around the world other countries envy.

    And so a sense of patriotism which is progressive, which is exceptional and what I try to say in my contribution to this in tipping my hat to him. And this idea that he has prosecuted, is it’s also very pragmatic, it’s very practical. It’s not especially ideological. It’s progressive in the sense that it’s about being more inclusive, looking to the future not just to the past. But it’s practical, it’s pragmatic, it’s about problem solving. That’s what we intend to bring to this reform task in the second term.

    Kenny:

    Yeah so things like the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, universal health insurance, Medicare, that sort of roped in to this, right. I guess what I’m trying to get at is what’s beyond what we already do and know, what’s the use of the term if it is just to describe in a sense what we already do?

    Chalmers:

    I think it’s about recognising this huge opportunity that Australia has because of the progress we’ve made together, because of the way that we think about ourselves and each other. The responsibilities that we have to each other, we don’t believe in this kind of scorched‑earth view of the world that says when the world economy is going berserk it’s everyone for themselves.

    And so I think that’s central to it, that’s the progressive part of it, this sense that we’re all in it together at the worst times and in the worst crises. And also a sense of confidence and optimism that despite everything that’s coming at us from around the world we have it within us to respond effectively, not just to play defence, not just to play off the back foot, but to make this work for us. And that’s the mindset that we all need to have.

    Four shocks in 2 decades, all of this churn and change in the world, a lot of progress we’ve made as Australians. A lot to be proud of, but a lot that we need to do together and we have everything we need, as I said before, except this sense of consensus about the way forward and if Anthony’s second term is to be anything it’s about the search for that.

    Kenny:

    One of the things that’s really challenged the consensus, this will probably be the last question here, but one of the things that’s challenged that consensus, probably the most dramatic challenge to any sort of political consensus over the last 15 years or so has been the argument over climate change. It has just been so divisive and so unproductive to go back to a theme we have been talking about before. Just the amount of time that’s been wasted and policy reversals and division and so forth.

    You’ve studied, I mean you wrote your PhD about Paul Keating’s period you’ve thought about this a lot, right. The idea of the great reform era of the ‘80s and ‘90s, the things that have been done there. Most of those things of course as is well known can’t be done again, they don’t need to be done again.

    But the big reform question now it seems to me and I’m interested in your thoughts about this is decarbonisation of the economy. It’s the transition. We often hear that you shouldn’t waste a crisis. I guess you could also say you shouldn’t waste a huge majority, right. Is this a mandate to accelerate the process of Australia’s economic transition because that’s about resilience as well isn’t it?

    Chalmers:

    The energy transformation is a big part of our reform agenda, and we come at that with ambition not because we’ve got a big majority but because we’ve got a big responsibility. And we do have a big opportunity to be again as the whole world’s energy sources transform and transition, Australia’s got a really compelling role to play in that. I’m excited about our critical minerals, I’m excited about our human capital base, our renewables sector.

    And so I think one of the reasons why we’ve been, I say we, charitably, why the kind of ideology of the extremes on climate change has dominated the conversation. But in the investor communities I knock around in, this is not seen as an especially ideological thing. This is seen as to be about the future of our economy. The future of our industrial base, how we attract and deploy capital more efficiently. This is a very mainstream idea apart from the ideological extremes of X and social media.

    Kenny:

    We understand that Sussan Ley is reviewing all policies and one of those policies it turns out is apparently, is the commitment to net zero. Or at least that’s what a number of people are urging the Coalition to do, is to walk away from commitment to net zero by 2050. What’s your feeling about that?

    Chalmers:

    I think if they walked away it would show they haven’t learnt anything from the last couple of elections. And it feels like from my distance I’m not an expert on the internals of the Liberal and National parties, but it feels like they are setting themselves up for a big barney on this.

    And that’s not good for the way we think about our economy, the way we think about attracting capital and investment, the way we think about certainty in our economy, that would be a bad thing. First of all, if they spent the next 3 years fighting about this but also if they walked away from something that most sane people see as a sensible way to go for an economy like ours.

    Kenny:

    Jim, thanks so much for coming on Democracy Sausage again, for being back here on your old alma mater, the campus of ANU. It’s been a great pleasure talking to you and we’ll look forward to doing so again at some point.

    Chalmers:

    I really enjoyed being back, Mark, and having another great chat, thanks so much.

    Kenny:

    That’s Democracy Sausage for this week. Until next week bye for now.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Isabella Higgins, AM, ABC Radio

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Isabella Higgins:

    Treasurer Jim Chalmers has outlined his ambition to implement bold tax reforms. In a major speech, he declared he didn’t want to engage in a rule‑in‑rule‑out game. He says everything is on the table ahead of a key economic roundtable in August. He joined me a short time ago.

    Treasurer, this conflict has already had some global financial impacts. In your view, what level of economic threat does this conflict pose?

    Jim Chalmers:

    The big risk here is obviously oil prices. We saw a big spike on Friday in the price of oil. That has implications for Australians at the petrol bowser. And there’s a lot of concern about what it might mean not just for inflation, as important as that is, but also global growth. If you look at the US Fed, which met overnight to determine the course of interest rates, they left their interest rates on hold for now. They want to see how that uncertainty plays out. But they did revise down their expectations for growth in the American economy. They did revise up their expectations for inflation and unemployment.

    I think that’s a bit of a hint of the potential consequences of what we’re seeing in the Middle East. As I said before, it’s a really dangerous time on the ground in the Middle East, but also a dangerous time for the global economy. And I think a lot of people, including us, are alive to those risks. So, I get briefed daily on the consequences for our economy and the global economy from what we’re seeing in the Middle East.

    Higgins:

    Well, Treasurer, it’s your job in this uncertain times that you would like to, as you say, have a plan for major tax reform highlighted in a major speech yesterday saying that an economic reform roundtable in August is a key moment to shape what that might look like. You’ve said you don’t want to engage in a game of rule‑in‑rule‑out, but do you expect robust reforms can be implemented in this term of parliament?

    Chalmers:

    I think so. And the point that we’re making, the reason we’re gathering this reform roundtable, is because the best defence against all this global economic uncertainty is a more productive economy, a more sustainable budget and more resilience in the face of what’s happening around the world. It’s the best way to lift living standards and create more opportunities in our economy and in our society. So we’re bringing people together – our belief, the Prime Minister’s belief, and right through the government is the best way to make progress is together. That’s what this reform roundtable is all about. It’s a smaller group, it’s got a targeted agenda. It’s all about how we try and build some consensus around our major economic challenges.

    We expect, we anticipate, we welcome the fact that people will have a whole range of views about the best way to go about that. Our job and the job of the reform roundtable is to see where there might be some common ground. We already have a big economic reform agenda. We’re already making progress in our economy. We’ve made big progress in our Budget. And this is about how we consider next steps in a consultative and a collaborative way.

    Higgins:

    But truly robust change, do they not need electoral mandate, major reforms? If we think, the GST John Howard took that to the election, are you nervous about taking major reform to the public when they haven’t been before the election?

    Chalmers:

    When I was asked about this at the National Press Club my point then, and the point that I would make again today, is that we would decide the sequencing and the timing of any changes depending on what the nature of those changes are. We don’t want to pre‑empt the conversation at the reform roundtable. People will bring big ideas. It will be an opportunity to see if we can build some consensus. And once we know the sorts of directions that people want us to pick up and run with, that would be the appropriate time to work out the sequencing of it.

    It may be that there are some things that come out of the roundtable which could be implemented relatively quickly. We don’t know yet. And so let’s see what people bring to the table. I’ve been so encouraged by the spirit with which people are approaching this opportunity, and I don’t want to artificially limit that or narrow that by ruling things in, ruling things out or thinking about sequencing before we’ve got all the ideas on the table.

    Higgins:

    But Treasurer, just how willing would you be to compromise on some of these plans? For example, the superannuation tax reforms. The Coalition doesn’t look likely to support that. Are you willing to work with the Greens?

    Chalmers:

    We’ve said that we’ll do our best to get it through the Senate. And that necessarily involves conversations with the Greens. I think that’s self‑evident. The opposition is opposed to that change. And the roundtable is about working on the –

    Higgins:

    – on the superannuation, are you willing to meet the Greens on the lowered threshold of $2 million instead of $3 million, and those changes to indexation rules?

    Chalmers:

    I thought you meant am I prepared to meet with the Greens, which I will. But in terms of the proposals they’ve put on the table, our preference and our expectation is that we legislate what we took to the people and what we announced more than 2 years ago. But I will respectfully engage with the Greens and with others in the Senate to pass this legislation. We did announce this policy almost 2 and a half years ago. There has been an election in between, and we’ll have the necessary conversations to try and see it passed.

    Higgins:

    Treasurer Jim Chalmers, thanks very much for joining us on AM.

    Chalmers:

    Thanks, Isabella.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bersama Warrior 2025 Kicks Off with Opening Ceremony, Strengthening U.S.-Malaysia Defense Ties

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    KUANTAN (TANJONG GELANG), Malaysia — The 11th annual Bersama Warrior exercise began with an opening ceremony on June 17 with keynote addresses from Malaysian Lt. Gen. Dato’ Zahani Bin Hj Zainal Abidin and U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael Ake in Kuantan, Malaysia.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bersama Warrior 2025 Kicks Off with Opening Ceremony, Strengthening U.S.-Malaysia Defense Ties

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    KUANTAN (TANJONG GELANG), Malaysia — The 11th annual Bersama Warrior exercise began with an opening ceremony on June 17 with keynote addresses from Malaysian Lt. Gen. Dato’ Zahani Bin Hj Zainal Abidin and U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael Ake in Kuantan, Malaysia.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australian citizens in Iran and Israel are desperate to leave. Is the government required to help?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney

    As thousands of Australian citizens and permanent residents stuck in Iran and Israel continue to register for repatriation flights, the government is scrambling to find safe ways to evacuate them.

    With the airspace over both countries closed, the government is considering other ways to bring them home.

    The current plan is to charter buses from private companies to take people from Israel into neighbouring Jordan. As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stressed: “We want to make sure people are looked after, but they need to be looked after safely as well”.

    This is not the first time Australia has faced challenges in evacuating nationals stranded abroad. When conflict, disasters or other emergencies occur overseas, the government regularly works to bring Australians home.

    In the early days of the COVID pandemic, for instance, the government arranged repatriation flights and established quarantine facilities to assist Australians who were stuck outside the country. Australia has repeatedly assisted its citizens caught in conflict zones to get back home, including from Afghanistan in 2021 and Lebanon in 2024.

    And when an earthquake devasted Vanuatu last December, Australia moved swiftly to get Australians out.

    Is Australia legally required to repatriate people?

    While there is a longstanding and widespread practice of governments repatriating their nationals in emergencies, countries generally do not have a legal responsibility to do so.

    Instead, governments’ decisions are discretionary and made on a case-by-case basis. They are often influenced by diplomatic, logistical and security considerations.

    Governments have a right – but not a duty – to provide consular assistance to their nationals abroad. This includes issuing travel documents, liaising with local authorities and, in exceptional cases, facilitating evacuations.

    The Consular Services Charter outlines what Australians abroad can expect from their government. It makes clear that while the government will do what it can, there are limits. Assistance is not guaranteed, especially in areas where Australia has no diplomatic presence or where security conditions make intervention too dangerous.

    The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is the lead agency responsible for coordinating Australians’ evacuation with embassies, airlines and international partners. Decisions to evacuate are ultimately made by the minister for foreign affairs following a recommendation, where possible, by the Inter-Departmental Emergency Task Force (IDETF).

    Repatriation efforts are guided by the Australian Government Plan for the Reception of Australian Citizens and Approved Foreign Nationals Evacuated from Overseas (AUSRECEPLAN). This arrangement that sets out a process for “the safe repatriation of Australians, their immediate dependants, permanent residents and approved foreign nationals (evacuees) following an Australian government-led evacuation in response to an overseas disaster or adverse security situation”. It outlines how federal, state and territory agencies coordinate to receive and support evacuees once they arrive in Australia, ensuring that returns are not only swift, but also safe and orderly.

    Challenges and constraints

    Repatriation during a crisis is a complex undertaking. Quite aside from the emergency conditions, which may close off usual travel options or routes, the Australian government cannot force another country to allow an evacuation. It also cannot guarantee safe passage, especially in conflicts.

    Identifying and communicating with citizens overseas can also be tricky, often requiring people to have self-registered with consular authorities to receive updates. In addition, consular services may be strained when embassies and consular offices have closed, as is the case in Israel and Iran.

    For these reasons, countries sometimes band together to assist each other. For instance, Australia and Canada have agreed that where one has a consular presence but the other does not, they will help to repatriate the other’s citizens.

    Similarly, the United States helped evacuate Australians and other allies’ nationals from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021. Countries in the European Union can activate a special regional mechanism to facilitate the repatriation of their citizens caught up in emergencies abroad.

    In exceptional circumstances, countries have sometimes extracted their stranded nationals through military operations, known as “non-combatant evacuation operations” (NEOs). This involves the military temporarily occupying a location on foreign soil to evacuate people. Some recent examples include the large-scale evacuations of foreign nationals from Afghanistan in 2021, Sudan during the civil war that began in 2023 and Lebanon during the 2024 Israeli–Hezbollah conflict.

    NEOs generally require the consent of the country from where the evacuation takes place, but their precise legal basis remains ambiguous under international law.

    In all cases, the evacuation of nationals is operationally complex – as exemplified by the current situation in Iran and Israel. Countries with limited resources may struggle to repatriate their nationals at all. This can mean some foreign nationals are “rescued”, while others are left behind.

    And, of course, local populations generally aren’t eligible for evacuation at all. This can leave people in extremely dangerous circumstances.

    That is why we have proposed the creation of an Australian framework for humanitarian emergencies that, among other things, would facilitate the safe and swift departure of certain non-citizens at particular risk. This would underscore that Australia’s approach to evacuations is, at its heart, about protecting people during crises.

    Jane McAdam receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and is the Director of the ARC Evacuations Research Hub at the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney.

    Regina Jefferies and Thomas Mulder 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. Australian citizens in Iran and Israel are desperate to leave. Is the government required to help? – https://theconversation.com/australian-citizens-in-iran-and-israel-are-desperate-to-leave-is-the-government-required-to-help-259272

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Gooooal! CommBank and Football Australia sign landmark deal to lift Australia’s biggest game to new heights

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank)

    CommBank becomes the largest supporter of football in Australia’s history sponsoring the game at all levels and abilities, and extending its support of Australia’s most played team sport.1

    CommBank and Football Australia today announced a ground-breaking investment in the world game, and Australia’s most played team sport, for the next six years.

    With this agreement, CommBank will become Football Australia’s major sponsor at all levels. In addition to the existing sponsorship of the CommBank Matildas, the 2024 IFCPF Women’s World Cup Champions the ParaMatildas, and the Pararoos, CommBank will become the naming rights partner of the Socceroos, and the Emerging Matildas and Emerging Socceroos Championships.

    CommBank’s investment will place an emphasis on keeping young people engaged in the sport from grassroots to elite levels. The support of the Emerging Socceroos Championships and Emerging Matildas Championships will be a significant boost for Australia’s premier youth tournaments and talent identification pipeline for young players, creating greater professional pathways for the next generation of CommBank Matildas and Socceroos.

    This agreement is an extension of the success achieved during CommBank and Football Australia’s initial partnership, particularly in the Bank’s sponsorship of the CommBank Matildas. Since the beginning of the partnership in 2021, women’s and girls’ football participation has increased by 27 per cent,2 and CommBank Matildas game attendance is up more than 100 per cent, including a run of 17 sold-out matches in a row from 2023 to 2024.3 Through CommBank’s Growing Football Fund, over 230 grassroots clubs and associations have received grants of up to $5000 to support initiatives and programs.

    The expanded CommBank and Football Australia partnership is a commitment to supporting all Australians regardless of age, gender, ability or location participate in the most played team sport in the country.

    CommBank CEO, Matt Comyn, said: “With the Socceroos facing the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026™, and the CommBank Matildas preparing for the Australian-hosted AFC Women’s Asia Cup™, there has never been a more exciting time to be a fan of football in Australia.

    “When we partnered with Football Australia as naming rights sponsors of the CommBank Matildas, they were about to embark on a history making international campaign, and what an incredible amount they’ve achieved for Australian football and women’s sport since 2021.

    “This six-year extension, combined with our previous four years, will result in a 10-year partnership. We hope this long-term commitment will help drive positive and lasting change for the game, players and communities.

    “CommBank is proud to play our part in extending the incredible growth we’ve seen in the female game over the past few years into all facets of the game, including the men’s, para athletes and youth competitions – we are committed to promoting supporting inclusivity, keeping communities connected, and ensuring a brighter future for all.”

    Interim CEO of Football Australia, Heather Garriock, said: “We are beyond delighted to take this next step in our relationship with CommBank and continue with our joint purpose of creating a game that is accessible to and loved by all Australians.

    “CommBank have been incredible partners since 2021 – in the four years since, we have together taken the women’s and para games from strength to strength, and we cannot wait to extend this success into other programs.

    “This is so much more than a sponsorship agreement, it is a values-aligned business partnership through which we will innovate and support each other in many ways – with a core aim of improving the lives of Australians through the world game right across the country. We look forward to embarking on this next step in our journey together.”

    Commencing from 1 September 2025, the partnership between CBA and Football Australia will include, but is not limited to:

    Official Banking Partner of Football Australia
    Official Naming Rights Partner of the CommBank Matildas
    NEW Official Naming Rights Partner of the CommBank Socceroos (Sep 1, 2025)
    Official Naming Rights Partner of the U23 Matildas
    Official Naming Rights Partner of the CommBank Young Matildas
    Official Naming Rights Partner of the CommBank Junior Matildas
    NEW Official Naming Rights Partner of the CommBank Olyroos
    NEW Official Naming Rights Partner of the CommBank Young Socceroos
    NEW Official Naming Rights Partner of the CommBank Joeys
    Official Naming Rights Partner of the CommBank ParaMatildas
    Official Naming Rights Partner of the CommBank Pararoos
    Official Bank of the Matildas
    Official Bank of the of the U23 Matildas
    Official Bank of the Junior Matildas
    Official Bank of the Young Matildas
    NEW Official Bank of the Socceroos
    NEW Official Bank of the Olyroos
    NEW Official Bank of the Young Socceroos
    NEW Official Bank of the Joeys
    Official Bank of the CommBank ParaMatildas
    Official Bank of the CommBank Pararoos
    Official Partner of Female Football Week
    Presenting Partner of Matildas Fan Days
    NEW Presenting Partner of Socceroos Fan Days
    NEW Presenting Partner of the Socceroos and Matildas Player Mascots
    Financial Wellbeing Partner of Football Australia
    NEW Official Naming Rights Partner of the Emerging Matildas Championships
    NEW Official Naming Rights Partner of the Emerging Socceroos Championships
    Official Partner of the Growing Football Fund
    Official Partner of Coles Miniroos

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Leads Quad Cities Lawmakers in Pressing U.S. Army for Answers on Rock Island Arsenal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) led a group of Quad Cities lawmakers, including Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), in a letter to U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll reemphasizing their request for a briefing to discuss any potential command and personnel changes at the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA). Members of the Iowa and Illinois congressional delegation first requested a dedicated briefing in April. 
    “The details you or Army leadership have reported to Congress differ from those shared with us from the RIA community. As the Army continues to implement transformation initiatives, we hear about the personnel impacts, such as roughly 150 positions within [Joint Munitions Command] headquarters, and 400 positions Arsenal wide that will be eliminated once the initiative is complete. We request a full briefing on the implementation plans, including workforce and mission impacts, and proposed timelines,” the lawmakers said. 
    The lawmakers underscored how the RIA community contributes significantly to the objectives of the Army to deliver warfighting capabilities and will continue to do so in the future.  
    “While we can appreciate and recognize the need to eliminate inefficiencies and support our national defense objectives, which may include reductions in workforce, we would like to understand the obsolete programs that the Army finds are present at RIA … We find that RIA is a highly efficient installation, as demonstrated by the dedicated workforce and capabilities embedded there. Contradictory conclusions should be justified by evidence,” the lawmakers continued. 
    Background:
    Grassley has long been a champion for Rock Island Arsenal, including through his legislation to expand manufacturing opportunities for Army arsenals. He also helped secure provisions in appropriations legislation and the annual defense bill to help ensure the long-term viability of the Rock Island Arsenal. Along with the other signatories, he introduced the Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act in March to boost workload at Army arsenals, including Rock Island Arsenal. 
    Text of the letter can be found HERE or below. 
    VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION 
    The Honorable Daniel D. Driscoll   
    Secretary of the U.S. Army   
    Dear Secretary Driscoll,  
    We appreciate your recent testimonies before the House and Senate Armed Services Committees in which you highlighted the importance of the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA). As you continue to plan and implement the reorganization outlined in the April 30, 2025, Army Transformation and Acquisition Reform memorandum, we ask that the Department of the Army be forthcoming and transparent with all stakeholders of RIA, especially members of Congress.  
    On April 4, 2025, members of the Iowa and Illinois delegation wrote to you outlining the saliency of RIA and requested a briefing to discuss any potential command and personnel changes to be made at the Arsenal. Unfortunately, our offices have not been provided a dedicated briefing on these plans, regardless of continual follow-up and directives being released to realign the headquarters and units within the Army Material Command (AMC) and Joint Munitions Command (JMC). From our questions during the broader Army transformation brief to the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) staff on May 22, and the SASC Army posture hearing on June 5, the last we understand from the Army is that the impact will be the likely removal of 100 personnel and the elimination of a data center. The details you or Army leadership have reported to Congress differ from those shared with us from the RIA community. 
    As the Army continues to implement transformation initiatives, we hear about the personnel impacts, such as roughly 150 positions within JMC headquarters, and 400 positions Arsenal wide that will be eliminated once the initiative is complete. We request a full briefing on the implementation plans, including workforce and mission impacts, and proposed timelines.  
    On May 21, 2025, the Department of the Army provided a response to a letter sent by members of the Iowa and Illinois delegation. While we can appreciate and recognize the need to eliminate inefficiencies and support our national defense objectives, which may include reductions in workforce, we would like to understand the obsolete programs that the Army finds are present at RIA. This includes the outdated, redundant, and inefficient programs cited in the May 21 response. We find that RIA is a highly efficient installation, as demonstrated by the dedicated workforce and capabilities embedded there. Contradictory conclusions should be justified by evidence.  
    It is encouraging to know that you and the Army are willing to work to improve the workload and operations at RIA, which may lead to additional jobs. The RIA community has contributed significantly to the objectives of the Army to deliver warfighting capabilities, and we have no doubt that it will continue to do so in the future. We look forward to hearing from you on the Army’s course of action for RIA and working with you increase the workload at RIA. Thank you for your continued dedication to our soldiers and to Army readiness.  
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Unanimously Passes Grassley-Klobuchar Resolution Supporting Public Access to C-SPAN Streaming Across All Platforms

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution from Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) marking the 39th anniversary of C-SPAN 2’s first Senate broadcast and urging all television providers, including streaming services, to carry the network.
    For nearly four decades, C-SPAN 2 has served as a conduit between the public and the Senate, offering Americans an uninterrupted and unfiltered lens to view their elected representatives working on the electorate’s behalf. C-SPAN does not receive taxpayer dollars and is funded by America’s cable and satellite television operators as a public service.
    “Transparency brings accountability, and C-SPAN’s coverage has brought transparency to the people’s business. This public service strengthens our system of self-government by boosting civic engagement, and ought to be available on all television and streaming platforms. The Senate unanimously stands behind C-SPAN in its fight to be platformed by streaming giants,” Grassley said.
    “C-SPAN has connected the Senate with the American people for nearly 40 years—providing the public an opportunity to see their government at work on the Senate floor and in committee meetings,” Klobuchar said. “Access to this live coverage on all platforms is essential to keeping the American people informed and engaged in their democracy.” 
    Background:
    Over 39 years, C-SPAN 2 has recorded more than 43,830 hours of Senate action, including more than 169,000 speeches from a broad range of ideologies. The network has documented more than 23,493 roll call votes, acting as a living ledger of Senate decision-making.
    Find text of the resolution HERE.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: What They Are Saying: Law Enforcement Officers Laud Senate Judiciary Provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Major law enforcement organizations representing over 310,000 officers nationwide say the One Big Beautiful Bill will supercharge their efforts to safeguard national security and public safety.

    The Senate Judiciary Committee’s provisions, released last week by Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), will provide historic investments to strengthen America’s border security and expand resources for law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe.

    Here’s what they’re saying:

    National Association of Police Organizations
    “It is state and local law enforcement officers who, during the course of daily patrols and duties, will encounter non-citizen offenders and immigration violators who pose a threat to national security or public safety. The Senate Judiciary Committee title of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on immigration and law enforcement grants state and local law enforcement the necessary resources and latitude to work with their federal partners and pursue investigations relating to violent crimes, human smuggling, and gang and drug activity. These partnerships and investigations are essential to keeping our nation’s communities safe by getting dangerous criminal aliens off our streets.”

    The Major County Sheriffs of America
    “The Major County Sheriffs of America appreciates the Senate budget reconciliation package’s inclusion of $10 billion in state and local assistance. The package strengthens vital partnerships through Operation Stonegarden and enhances our ability to locate and apprehend criminal aliens, investigate trafficking and gang activity and support court operations and detention facilities. Importantly, it continues investment in COPS and Byrne JAG programs, essential for hiring and equipping officers while enhancing local law enforcement capacity. These provisions demonstrate strong federal commitment to supporting sheriffs and the communities we serve.” 

    Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association
    “Senator Grassley continues to demonstrate strong leadership and unwavering support for our federal law enforcement professionals. At a time when our nation faces serious challenges – from border security to the fentanyl crisis – his commitment to public safety and to those who serve on the front lines is deeply appreciated. We stand with Senator Grassley and all leaders who prioritize the recruitment and retention of top talent in law enforcement, and we urge Congress to take further action to support these dedicated individuals.”

    National Council of Prison Locals 33
    “On behalf of the 30,000 federal correctional employees represented by the Council of Prison Locals 33, I am writing to express our strong support for the provisions contained in the Senate Reconciliation Bill… We applaud the work of Senator Grassley and his staff for seeing the importance of these provisions and much needed increase to funding for staffing and infrastructure, and are hopeful others will follow his lead.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Blumenthal Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Mark National Elder Abuse Awareness Month, Shed Light on Senior Fraud Schemes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) are introducing a resolution recognizing June as National Elder Abuse Awareness Month and standing in support of seniors who’ve been victim to fraud schemes. The resolution applauds the Elder Justice Coalition’s work to increase public awareness of elder abuse and calls on those working with older adults to learn the signs of abuse and promote long-term prevention efforts.

    On Tuesday, Grassley will chair a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee to examine how scammers target senior citizens, continuing his efforts to protect seniors from financial predators and help older Americans live with security and dignity.

    “Elder abuse isn’t limited by geography or income. It occurs in nursing homes and private residences—the very places meant to offer them care and protection. With a fast-growing senior population in our country, the urgency to act has never been greater. This month…we recommit to raising awareness of elder abuse and implementing protections for those in our society who protected us first,” Grassley said.

    “Too many of our nation’s seniors are victims of physical abuse, emotional exploitation, and financial scams. Senior citizens deserve peace of mind, support, and care—not the anxiety and fear that comes with the threat of elder abuse. This resolution reaffirms our commitment to our senior citizens and advocating for their safety, rights, and wellbeing,” Blumenthal said.

    “Elder abuse prevention is enhanced greatly when public awareness is raised. The Grassley-Blumenthal resolution is a powerful example of raising national public awareness about elder abuse. Its joint designation of June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month allows vital attention to be focused on the issue while also empowering those in adult protective services and our long-term care ombudsman to continue their important work. The Elder Justice Coalition salutes Senators Grassley and Blumenthal for their steadfast advocacy of elder justice in America,” Elder Justice Coalition National Coordinator Bob Blancato said.

    Text of the resolution can be found HERE.

    Background:

    Elder abuse remains a challenging problem and comes in many different forms, including physical, sexual or psychological abuse, financial exploitation, neglect and social media abuse. Last year, an estimated one in six older Americans experienced some form of abuse in a community setting.

    According to reports, only one in 24 cases of elder abuse are reported, and only one in 44 cases of elder financial exploitation are reported. Most reported cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation take place within private homes.

    Grassley today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of introducing the resolution. His remarks follow:

    [embedded content]

    Today I want to recognize June as National Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and I’m introducing a resolution with Senator Blumenthal for this purpose. This is a time to shed light on a crisis that too often remains in the shadows.

    Last year, an estimated one in six older Americans experienced some form of abuse in a community setting — whether physical, emotional, financial or neglect.

    For every elder abuse case that’s reported, as many as 24 go unreported. These aren’t just numbers. They’re our parents, our grandparents, our neighbors and our veterans.

    Elder abuse isn’t limited by geography or income. It occurs in nursing homes and private residences—the very places meant to offer them care and protection. 

    With a fast-growing senior population in our country, the urgency to act has never been greater.

    This month, we recommit to building a society that views aging not as a burden, but as a source of wisdom, experience, and continued contribution. 

    We recommit to raising awareness of elder abuse and implementing protections for those in our society who protected us first.

    I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring older Americans this month. 

    In the Senate Judiciary Committee, I’m working to support and protect our seniors. Tomorrow I’m holding a hearing to examine how scammers are targeting older Americans. This continues my efforts to ensure that seniors are protected from financial predators and can live with the security and dignity they deserve. 

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News