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Category: AM-NC

  • University News – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 22, 2025

    University News: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on July 22, 2025.

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Learning webinars to assist tertiary teaching online in New Zealand
    Source: Tertiary Education Commission Last updated 28 August 2020Last updated 28 August 2020 Print Share In these recorded webinars, New Zealand and Australian experts share their knowledge to enhance the quality of your online teaching practice.In these recorded webinars, New Zealand and Australian experts share their knowledge to enhance the quality of your online teaching […]

    MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 32 Awarded Scholarships To Tackle Sustainability Challenges
    Source: Government of Singapore JOINT NEWS RELEASE BETWEEN MSE, NEA, PUB AND SFA Singapore, 21 July 2025 – 16 young individuals have received the Singapore Sustainability Scholarship (SSS) to pursue courses in engineering, environmental, food, and science-related disciplines locally or overseas. Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, presented the scholarships at the […]

    MIL-Evening Report: Everyone’s talking about the Perseid meteor shower – but don’t bother trying to see it in Australia or NZ
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland View of the 2023 Perseid meteor shower from the southernmost part of Sequoia National Forest, US. NASA/Preston Dyches In recent days, you may have seen articles claiming the “best meteor shower of the year” is about to start. Unfortunately, […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – ProCare welcomes announcement of new Waikato medical school as a commitment to strengthening primary care workforce
    Source: ProCare Leading healthcare provider, ProCare, warmly welcomes the announcement from Health Minister Simeon Brown and Universities Minister Dr Shane Reti that Cabinet has approved the establishment of a new medical school at the University of Waikato. While the school won’t open until 2028, the announcement includes a strong focus on primary care and rural […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Grigorenko: Novosibirsk AI developments have potential for federal replication
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. During his working visit, Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko got acquainted with the results of the implementation of artificial intelligence in various […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: Yuri Trutnev: Buryatia on “Far East Street” will tell about the sacred lake
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. The Republic of Buryatia will traditionally take part in the exhibition “Far East Street”, which will be held from September 3 to 9 as part of the tenth, […]

    MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MHRA announces proposals to improve access to world’s best medical devices for patients and to boost economic growth in Britain’s med tech sector
    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments Press release MHRA announces proposals to improve access to world’s best medical devices for patients and to boost economic growth in Britain’s med tech sector The MHRA has now published the government’s response to its public consultation on future routes to market for medical devices – designed […]

    MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £63 million lift-off for clean aviation fuels
    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments Press release £63 million lift-off for clean aviation fuels Winning 17 companies will share £63 million to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and support 1,400 jobs in the UK. 17 UK companies developing sustainable aviation fuel to receive share of new £63 million funding boost, supporting […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Sullivan Recognizes “Riverboat Discovery” Co-Founder Mary Binkley as “Alaskan of the Week”
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan 07.21.25 WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) recognized longtime Fairbanks resident and tourism pioneer Mary Binkley on the Senate floor last week. For 75 years, Mary has been a central figure in Alaska’s visitor industry, co-founding the iconic Riverboat Discovery and helping to showcase the […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Jim Costa Honors the Life of John Harris on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives
    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California WASHINGTON – In a heartfelt tribute, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) honored the life and legacy of John C. Harris on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, recognizing his decades of leadership in California and San Joaquin Valley agriculture. […]

    MIL-OSI Economics: Coalition Letter RE: Oversight hearing titled “Permitting Purgatory: Restoring Common Sense to NEPA Reviews.”
    Source: Independent Petroleum Association of America Headline: Coalition Letter RE: Oversight hearing titled “Permitting Purgatory: Restoring Common Sense to NEPA Reviews.” Jul 21, 2025 Coalition Letter RE: Oversight hearing titled “Permitting Purgatory: Restoring Common Sense to NEPA Reviews.” Dear Chairman Westerman: …Reforming the nation’s outdated permitting system is critical to bolstering energy security, growing jobs, […]

    MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Launches Second Investigation into George Mason University
    Source: United States Attorneys General The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today that it has launched an investigation into George Mason University to determine whether the University has denied equal treatment of individuals based on race or national origin, in violation of Title VI. The compliance review investigation will examine whether George Mason University, […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Launches Second Investigation into George Mason University
    Source: US State of North Dakota The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today that it has launched an investigation into George Mason University to determine whether the University has denied equal treatment of individuals based on race or national origin, in violation of Title VI. The compliance review investigation will examine whether George Mason […]

    MIL-OSI USA: SEC Announces George Botic to Serve as Acting Chair of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that it has designated George R. Botic to serve as Acting Chair of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, effective July 23, 2025. Current PCAOB Chair Erica Y. Williams has resigned from the Board, effective July 22, 2025. “I thank Erica Williams for […]

    MIL-OSI USA: More Than $52 Million for UMaine System Advanced by Senator Collins in Funding Bills
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $52,350,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for the University of Maine (UMaine) System in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) and Agriculture, Rural Development, […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: Lectures, workshops and horizontal connections: the Summer Engineering and Economics School 2025 has started at the State University of Management
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: Official website of the State – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. On July 21, 2025, the Summer School of Engineering and Economics started at the State University of Management. The School brings together postgraduate students, young scientists and engineers from different Russian universities for the […]

    MIL-OSI Banking: Microsoft supports making Europe’s languages and cultures more accessible in the digital realm
    Source: Microsoft Headline: Microsoft supports making Europe’s languages and cultures more accessible in the digital realm Editor’s Note: This blog is also available in Italian, Spanish, French, and German. Europe is home to more than 200 languages and a rich cultural legacy that spans thousands of years, preserved in millions of cultural assets that tell […]

    MIL-OSI USA: One-Stop-Shop for Military and Veterans Interested in SUNY
    Source: US State of New York overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of a one-stop-shop for active duty servicemembers, veterans, and family members currently enrolled or interested in attending any SUNY college or university. The landing page: www.suny.edu/military, includes information on available credit for military service and experience, tuition assistance, specialized scholarships, and dedicated […]

    MIL-OSI Analysis: AI in universities: How large language models are transforming research
    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ali Shiri, Professor of Information Science & Vice Dean, Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies, University of Alberta Generative AI, especially large language models (LLMs), present exciting and unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges for academic research and scholarship. As the different versions of LLMs (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, […]

    MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ARU graduates lead the region for career success
    Source: Anglia Ruskin University New national data shows that Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) graduates are thriving in their chosen careers, with ARU top in the region for two key measures of graduate success. The findings come from the Graduate Outcomes survey, the UK’s largest annual social survey, conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)*. […]

  • Analysis – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 22, 2025

    Analysis: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on July 22, 2025.

    MIL-Evening Report: NZ and allies condemn ‘inhumane’, ‘horrifying’ killings in Gaza and ‘drip feeding’ of aid
    RNZ News New Zealand has joined 24 other countries in calling for an end to the war in Gaza, and criticising what they call the inhumane killing of Palestinians. The countries — including Britain, France, Canada and Australia plus the European Union — also condemed the Israeli government’s aid delivery model in Gaza as “dangerous”. […]

    MIL-Evening Report: Everyone’s talking about the Perseid meteor shower – but don’t bother trying to see it in Australia or NZ
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland View of the 2023 Perseid meteor shower from the southernmost part of Sequoia National Forest, US. NASA/Preston Dyches In recent days, you may have seen articles claiming the “best meteor shower of the year” is about to start. Unfortunately, […]

    MIL-OSI Submissions: Emil Bove’s appeals court nomination echoes earlier controversies, but with a key difference
    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Paul M. Collins Jr., Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science, UMass Amherst Emil Bove, Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as a federal appeals judge for the 3rd Circuit, is sworn in during a confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2025. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via […]

    MIL-Evening Report: Pumped up with poison: new research shows many anabolic steroids contain toxic metals
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Piatkowski, Lecturer in Psychology, Griffith University MilosStankovic/Getty Images Eighteen-year-old Mark scrolls Instagram late at night, watching videos of fitness influencers showing off muscle gains and lifting the equivalent of a baby elephant off the gym floor. Spurred on by hashtags and usernames indicating these feats involve […]

    MIL-Evening Report: How EVs and electric water heaters are turning cities into giant batteries
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bin Lu, Senior Research Fellow in Renewable Energy, Australian National University Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock As the electrification of transport and heating accelerates, many worry the increased demand could overload national power grids. In Australia, electricity consumption is expected to double by 2050. If everyone charges their car and […]

    MIL-Evening Report: The end of open-plan classrooms: how school design reflects changing ideas in education
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leon Benade, Professor in the School of Education of Edith Cowan University (ECU), Perth, WA, Edith Cowan University skynesher/Getty Imaged The end of open-plan classrooms in New Zealand, recently announced by Education Minister Erica Stanford, marks yet another swing of the pendulum in school design. Depending on […]

    MIL-Evening Report: Could Rupert Murdoch bring down Donald Trump? A court case threatens more than just their relationship
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dodd, Professor of Journalism, Director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne If Rupert Murdoch becomes a white knight standing up to a rampantly bullying US president, the world has moved into the upside-down. This is, after all, the media mogul whose US […]

    MIL-Evening Report: PBS and NPR are generally unbiased, independent of government propaganda and provide key benefits to US democracy
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie A. (Sam) Martin, Frank and Bethine Church Endowed Chair of Public Affairs, Boise State University Congress’ cuts to public broadcasting will diminish the range and volume of the free press and the independent reporting it provides. MicroStockHub-iStock/Getty Images Plus Champions of the almost entirely party-line vote […]

    MIL-Evening Report: Africa’s minerals are being bartered for security: why it’s a bad idea
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hanri Mostert, SARChI Chair for Mineral Law in Africa, University of Cape Town A US-brokered peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda binds the two African nations to a worrying arrangement: one where a country signs away its mineral resources to a superpower […]

    MIL-Evening Report: A popular sweetener could be damaging your brain’s defences, says recent study
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Havovi Chichger, Professor, Biomedical Science, Anglia Ruskin University Found in everything from protein bars to energy drinks, erythritol has long been considered a safe alternative to sugar. But new research suggests this widely used sweetener may be quietly undermining one of the body’s most crucial protective barriers […]

    MIL-OSI Submissions: PBS and NPR are generally unbiased, independent of government propaganda and provide key benefits to US democracy
    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Stephanie A. (Sam) Martin, Frank and Bethine Church Endowed Chair of Public Affairs, Boise State University Congress’ cuts to public broadcasting will diminish the range and volume of the free press and the independent reporting it provides. MicroStockHub-iStock/Getty Images Plus Champions of the almost entirely party-line vote in […]

    MIL-OSI Submissions: More than just a bad date: Navigating harms on LGBTQ+ dating apps
    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Christopher Dietzel, Postdoctoral fellow, the DIGS Lab, Concordia University It is crucial to think about what you can do promote your safety while using dating apps, and before you click the download button. (Shutterstock) Dating apps like Tinder, Bumble and Grindr have become a ubiquitous part of modern […]

    MIL-OSI Submissions: As Canada’s economy faces serious challenges, the Indigenous economy offers solutions
    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Mylon Ollila, PhD Candidate in Indigenous Economic Policy, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT) Canada faces economic headwinds due to geopolitical change, including a trade war with its closest economic partner, the United States. Canada’s policymakers are searching for new, sustainable sources of economic strength. One such source […]

    MIL-OSI Submissions: A popular sweetener could be damaging your brain’s defences, says recent study
    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Havovi Chichger, Professor, Biomedical Science, Anglia Ruskin University Found in everything from protein bars to energy drinks, erythritol has long been considered a safe alternative to sugar. But new research suggests this widely used sweetener may be quietly undermining one of the body’s most crucial protective barriers – […]

    MIL-OSI Submissions: AI and other future technologies will be necessary — but not sufficient — for enacting the UN’s Pact for the Future
    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Joyeeta Gupta, Professor, Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam In September 2024, members of the United Nations adopted the Pact for the Future at the Summit of the Future, held in New York City. The pact, including its two annexes on the Declaration on Future Generations and […]

    MIL-OSI Analysis: How a popular sweetener could be damaging your brain’s defences
    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Havovi Chichger, Professor, Biomedical Science, Anglia Ruskin University Found in everything from protein bars to energy drinks, erythritol has long been considered a safe alternative to sugar. But new research suggests this widely used sweetener may be quietly undermining one of the body’s most crucial protective barriers – […]

    MIL-OSI Analysis: From painkillers to antibiotics: five medicines that could harm your hearing
    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University DC Studio/Shutterstock When we think about the side effects of medicines, we might think of nausea, fatigue or dizziness. But there’s another, lesser-known risk that can have lasting – and sometimes permanent – consequences: hearing loss. A wide range […]

    MIL-OSI Analysis: How young people have taken climate justice to the world’s international courts
    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Susan Ann Samuel, PhD Candidate, School of Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds Pla2na/Shutterstock, CC BY-NC-ND Youth activist organisations including Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change and World Youth for Climate Justice recently coordinated massive online calls across two different time zones. These two global gatherings were […]

    MIL-OSI Analysis: Teenagers aren’t good at spotting misinformation online – research suggests why
    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Yvonne Skipper, Senior Lecturer in Psychology (Education), University of Glasgow Body Stock/Shutterstock Misinformation is found in every element of our online lives. It ranges from fake products available to buy, fake lifestyle posts on social media accounts and fake news about health and politics. Misinformation has an impact […]

    MIL-OSI Analysis: Rightwing populist Sanseitō party shakes Japan with election surge
    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rin Ushiyama, Lecturer in Sociology, Queen’s University Belfast Japan held elections for its upper house, the House of Councillors, on July 20. The vote proved a challenge for the conservative ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP), which has been reeling from corruption scandals, rising prices and US tariffs on […]

  • Technology – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 22, 2025

    Technology News – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 22, 2025

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Learning webinars to assist tertiary teaching online in New Zealand
    Source: Tertiary Education Commission Last updated 28 August 2020Last updated 28 August 2020 Print Share In these recorded webinars, New Zealand and Australian experts share their knowledge to enhance the quality of your online teaching practice.In these recorded webinars, New Zealand and Australian experts share their knowledge to enhance the quality of your online teaching […]

    MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 32 Awarded Scholarships To Tackle Sustainability Challenges
    Source: Government of Singapore JOINT NEWS RELEASE BETWEEN MSE, NEA, PUB AND SFA Singapore, 21 July 2025 – 16 young individuals have received the Singapore Sustainability Scholarship (SSS) to pursue courses in engineering, environmental, food, and science-related disciplines locally or overseas. Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, presented the scholarships at the […]

    MIL-OSI: XRP surges 100% to $3.66, PBKMiner launches free XRP mining contracts to attract a large number of XRP holders
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) Washington, D.C, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Driven by US cryptocurrency legislation, Ripple XRP surged to $3.65, a record high. PBKMiner provides an AI-driven approach: XRP dedicated cloud mining contracts, allowing users to use Ripple (XRP) to immediately start Bitcoin cloud mining to achieve daily XRP and BTC daily income.Ripple’s native […]

    MIL-OSI: XRP breaks through resistance and price surges 90%, PBK Miner launches revolutionary XRP cloud mining, igniting the XRP market
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) Los Angeles, California, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XRP has had a great week, hitting an eye-popping $3.66 on Friday, a massive 90% increase from April levels. Now just a stone’s throw away from XRP’s legendary peak of $3.84 during the 2018 bull run, as enthusiasm in the cryptocurrency market soars, […]

    MIL-OSI: PBK Miner launches the first XRP cloud mining platform, leading the Ripple cloud mining revolution, using XRP to earn daily passive income
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) London, United Kingdom , July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new US stablecoin bill passed in July 2025 is further improving regulatory clarity and opening the door to institutional adoption. Ripple’s USD-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, is fully collateralized by cash and US Treasuries and issued on the XRP Ledger.For investors who hold […]

    MIL-OSI China: China has over 1.12 billion internet users, boosting prowess in culture, AI
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News China had more than 1.12 billion internet users as of June 2025, according to a report released by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) on Monday. The report also noted that internet penetration in China reached 79.7 percent by June 2025, an increase of 1.1 […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Grigorenko: Novosibirsk AI developments have potential for federal replication
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. During his working visit, Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko got acquainted with the results of the implementation of artificial intelligence in various […]

    MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MHRA announces proposals to improve access to world’s best medical devices for patients and to boost economic growth in Britain’s med tech sector
    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments Press release MHRA announces proposals to improve access to world’s best medical devices for patients and to boost economic growth in Britain’s med tech sector The MHRA has now published the government’s response to its public consultation on future routes to market for medical devices – designed […]

    MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £63 million lift-off for clean aviation fuels
    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments Press release £63 million lift-off for clean aviation fuels Winning 17 companies will share £63 million to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production and support 1,400 jobs in the UK. 17 UK companies developing sustainable aviation fuel to receive share of new £63 million funding boost, supporting […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Andrea Salinas Introduces Resolution to Establish “National Moon Landing Day”
    Source: US Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) This week, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06), alongside Representative Keith Self (TX-03), introduced a resolution establishing July 20 as “National Moon Landing Day” to mark the anniversary of the first-ever lunar landing in 1969. Washington, D.C. – This week, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06), alongside Representative Keith Self (TX-03), introduced […]

    MIL-OSI Economics: Oil and Natural Gas Trades Urge Congress to Push Permitting Reform
    Source: Independent Petroleum Association of America Headline: Oil and Natural Gas Trades Urge Congress to Push Permitting Reform Jul 21, 2025 Oil and Natural Gas Trades Urge Congress to Push Permitting Reform WASHINGTON — A group of eight oil and natural gas trade associations today called on lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives to […]

    MIL-OSI: Ripplecoin Mining launches XRP cloud mining contracts to help investors lock in daily crypto yields
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) San Francisco, California , July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As XRP breaks through $3.55, setting a new record high, Ripplecoin Mining announced the launch of a new XRP cloud mining service to provide cryptocurrency investors with a stable daily income channel. Users can directly start cloud mining contracts using mainstream currencies such […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Female technician completes EV training at EIT
    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology 25 seconds ago A female technician at Andrew Simms Motor Group in Auckland has completed electric vehicle training through EIT to meet growing demand in the workshop. Lezani Oosthuizen-Meyer, who joined the dealership in 2023, recently completed the NZ Certificate in Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering [Level 5] through EIT via […]

    MIL-OSI: IDEX Biometrics ASA – Fully Underwritten Private Placement successfully placed – 21 July 2025
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN OR THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF ANY OF THE SECURITIES […]

    MIL-OSI Security: Engineer Pleads Guilty to Stealing for Chinese Government’s Benefit Trade Secret Technology Designed for Missile Launch and Detection
    Source: United States Attorneys General 13 A Santa Clara County man and former engineer at a Southern California company pleaded guilty today to stealing trade secret technologies developed for use by the U.S. government to detect nuclear missile launches, track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, and to allow U.S. fighter planes to detect and evade heat-seeking […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Engineer Pleads Guilty to Stealing for Chinese Government’s Benefit Trade Secret Technology Designed for Missile Launch and Detection
    Source: US State of North Dakota A Santa Clara County man and former engineer at a Southern California company pleaded guilty today to stealing trade secret technologies developed for use by the U.S. government to detect nuclear missile launches, track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, and to allow U.S. fighter planes to detect and evade heat-seeking […]

    MIL-OSI: Topnotch Crypto releases AI Mining V3.0.3 cloud mining upgrade, becoming the wealth engine for 8 million users
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) Houston, Texas, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Topnotch Crypto, a growing force in the blockchain and Web3 space, has officially announced the successful rollout of its latest platform enhancement — AI Mining V3.0.3. With this powerful upgrade, the platform is now offering free cloud mining access for Bitcoin (BTC) and Dogecoin […]

    MIL-OSI Security: Remarks of Deputy Director/General Counsel Ramona D. Elliott for the 60th Annual Seminar of the National Association of Chapter Thirteen Trustees
    Source: United States Attorneys General 13 Note: Remarks as prepared for delivery. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. I last joined you in San Francisco three years ago, and I thank President Lon Jenkins, Vice President Melissa Davey, and the rest of the National Association of Chapter Thirteen Trustees’ leadership team for […]

    MIL-OSI: RBB Bancorp Reports Second Quarter 2025 Earnings and Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.16 Per Common Share
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) LOS ANGELES, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RBB Bancorp (NASDAQ:RBB) and its subsidiaries, Royal Business Bank (the “Bank”) and RBB Asset Management Company (“RAM”), collectively referred to herein as the “Company,” announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025. Second Quarter 2025 Highlights Net income totaled $9.3 million, or $0.52 diluted earnings per […]

    MIL-OSI: Fortinet Honors the Life and Contributions of Valued Board Member William H. Neukom
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fortinet® (NASDAQ: FTNT), the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, today announced the passing of William H. “Bill” Neukom, a distinguished member of Fortinet’s Board of Directors since 2013. During his tenure, Bill provided unwavering leadership, thoughtful guidance, and mentorship […]

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First Minister attends final day of Tall Ships festival

    Source: Scottish Government

    Aberdeen bids farewell to 50 vessels after successful four day programme.

    First Minister John Swinney will be among the crowds of people gathering in Aberdeen today to watch the Parade of Sail on the last day of the Tall Ships Races festival.

    The First Minister will meet young trainees who are taking part in the races, event organisers and volunteers before watching the 50 Tall Ships leave the harbour.

    Speaking ahead of the event, the First Minister commented:

    “The Tall Ships Races 2025 is a major international maritime and cultural moment for Aberdeen and Scotland as a whole. Over the past four days it has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors, making it the city’s biggest event in a generation.

    “The success of this festival is a testament to Aberdeen’s role as a maritime city with a focus on international engagement and community involvement.

    “The Scottish Government is committed to supporting world-class events, such as the Tall Ships Festival, that raise Scotland’s profile as the perfect stage and showcase our event and tourism assets. 

    “Scotland is set to host several other major international and national events, including the Commonwealth Games in 2026, Tour de France Grand Depart in 2027 and the 2028 UEFA European Championships – further enhancing our global profile and supporting economic, cultural and community development across the country.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 32 Awarded Scholarships To Tackle Sustainability Challenges

    Source: Government of Singapore

    JOINT NEWS RELEASE BETWEEN MSE, NEA, PUB AND SFA

    Singapore, 21 July 2025 – 16 young individuals have received the Singapore Sustainability Scholarship (SSS) to pursue courses in engineering, environmental, food, and science-related disciplines locally or overseas. Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, presented the scholarships at the award ceremony today. The SSS is jointly offered by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), the National Environment Agency (NEA), national water agency PUB, and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). Minister Fu also presented certificates to 16 in-service scholars, recognising their commitment to enhance their skills and professional expertise, and potential to make even bigger contributions to the public service. The full list of Singapore Sustainability Scholarship and in-service scholars are in Annex A and B respectively.

    2            A total of 293 scholarships have been awarded since the inception of the SSS in 2008. The Scholarship identifies potential future public service leaders with a passion for environmental stewardship, and nurtures them to tackle the challenges posed by climate change, environmental sustainability, water supply resilience and food safety and food security. Upon graduation, scholarship recipients will embark on fulfilling careers with MSE, NEA, PUB, or SFA, working on initiatives that impact the everyday lives of Singaporeans. These include safeguarding Singapore’s coastline from the effects of climate change, ensuring a secure and safe food supply for Singapore, and implementing the Singapore Green Plan 2030.

    Singapore Sustainability Scholarship Recipients

    3         Aarohi Chaudhary, 19, was inspired during her internship in NEA and chose to build a career with the agency. At NEA’s Public Health Policy Department, Aarohi learned that science and policy-making are closely connected while working on a project on new after-death practices. She will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Oxford and is keen to apply scientific knowledge to address Singapore’s environmental challenges.

    4         Mohd Kasyful Azhim, 24, is a mid-term scholarship recipient with PUB, pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering at the Singapore Institute of Technology. Kasyful is a passionate advocate for sustainability initiatives and a member of the student board at Al-Mizan Singapore, a non-profit network under the Association of Muslim Professionals. He is eager to advance PUB’s progress in enhancing sustainability across our operations and contribute to Singapore’s Water Story. “Water is at the heart of Singapore’s sustainability roadmap, and I am excited to play a role in ensuring our water future continues to be resilient and secure.”

    5          Darren Chua, 25, represented Singapore in swimming, winning both a Gold and Silver medal for Singapore at the 2023 SEA Games. He is now shifting his focus to veterinary science. Growing up, he spent most of his time in the waters and this ignited his passion for working in aquatic environments. As one of SFA’s scholarship recipients this year, Darren will be pursuing a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland. His studies will equip him with necessary skills to address challenges in aquatic animal health and food security in Singapore.

    In-service Scholarship Recipients

    6           Say Yueyang, Symus is one of our in-service scholars. As the Executive Engineer in NEA’s Radiation Protection and Nuclear Science Group (Nuclear Science and Technology Department, Regulation Division), Symus oversees the implementation of Singapore’s obligations under various nuclear safety conventions and agreements and is involved in strategising and planning engagements with international partners to enhance NEA’s capabilities in nuclear safety, safeguards and security. He will be pursuing an International Master’s Programme in Nuclear Engineering and Management at Tsinghua University, which will provide comprehensive professional education and research opportunities in nuclear science and engineering and strengthen his technical foundation to enable more thorough assessment of nuclear energy technologies.

    ~~ End ~~

     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China claim two silvers in artistic swimming at World Aquatics Championships

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

    China added two silver medals to its tally at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships on Monday, with 17-year-old Guo Muye placing second in the men’s solo free routine and twin sisters Lin Yanhan and Lin Yanjun finishing runners-up in the women’s duet technical final.

    Lin Yanhan/Lin Yanjun of China perform during the women’s duet technical final of artistic swimming at the World Aquatic Championships in Singapore, July 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)

    In the preliminaries, the Lin sisters had ranked second overall with a score of 301.0933 points, securing their place in the 12-pair final.

    Performing a routine themed “Warriors of moon shadow”, Lin Yanhan and Lin Yanjun earned 301.4057 points for the silver, finishing behind Austrian sisters Anna-Maria and Eirini-Marina Alexandri. The bronze medal went to neutral athletes Mayya Doroshko and Tatiana Gayday.

    “I think both the Austrian team and the neutral athletes delivered performances that are truly worth learning from,” Lin Yanhan said. “We went back and watched their videos after the preliminary round, and it was clear there’s still a significant gap between us. We know we have a lot of room for improvement.”

    Earlier on Monday, Guo, who had finished fourth in his men’s solo technical final last Saturday, delivered a strong performance in the men’s solo free routine to secure the silver medal with 220.1926 points. The gold went to Aleksandr Maltsev, who tallied 229.5613 points, while Italy’s Filippo Pelati took bronze with 213.9850.

    “I feel quite happy about winning this medal,” Guo said. “But this is not yet a gold, so I still have much to work on. I need to improve the height and lines of my routines, as well as my eye contact and interaction with the judges.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Su Chao’ transforms Wuxi into festival of football and flavor

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

    Beneath neon lights and the glow of a towering outdoor screen, a voice rang out – “Goal for Huai’an!” The shout cut through the air, momentarily halting Wuxi local Yuan Yijun mid-bite, her hands suspending a plump crayfish midair.

    “Suddenly,” Yuan laughed, “even my beloved crayfish didn’t taste as good.”

    On July 20, the 1.38-kilometer-long Hubin Commercial Street in Wuxi’s Binhu District, east China’s Jiangsu Province, turned into a stadium of its own. It was lined not with bleachers, but with steaming night market stalls, rows of folding chairs and hungry, hyped-up fans.

    Lu Zhiyong (1st L) of Changzhou goes for a header against Nanjing during the 2025 Jiangsu Football City League in Changzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province on June 21, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

    The Sunday night saw Wuxi host Huai’an in a much-anticipated match of the wildly popular Chinese grassroots league known as the Su Super League, or “Su Chao.” Online, fans dubbed the derby the “Honey peach vs. Crayfish,” a playful reference to the two cities’ culinary claims to fame.

    “For us, eating crayfish is our own way of cheering for the Wuxi team,” Yuan said, gesturing to the pool of chili oil and glistening carapaces before her.

    “Honestly, I’m not even a hardcore fan. My friends and I came here to hang out, snack and soak up the vibe. It’s all about the ambience,” she added.

    Inside the stadium, chants rattled the rafters. Outside, every goal lit up the squares and parks. On social media, memes and banter about the quirky faceoff spread like wildfire. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup remaining a distant glimmer on the horizon, “Su Chao” has already ignited a football fever in China.

    Since its kickoff in May, the city-based amateur league has drawn staggering attention, with peak single-game attendance surpassing 60,000, over a million fans scrambling for tickets each round and short video platform impressions soaring past 10 billion.

    The July 20 match coincided with the opening of Hubin Commercial Street’s summer shopping festival, infusing the street with an almost orchestral tempo. Over 370 renowned eateries lined the street, but none drew more eager crowds than the competing crayfish stands.

    “This street is famous for its crayfish-fueled night market,” said Ji Chenjie, deputy general manager of a company running the commercial street. “Tonight, we counted nearly 40,000 visitors. Many merchants took it upon themselves to ride the ‘Su Chao’ wave. Some even set up pop-up stalls in whatever open space was left.”

    Even for the vendors, team loyalty was a delicious dilemma. “As someone from Huai’an now doing business in Wuxi, I had mixed feelings,” admitted Sun Wei, a crayfish shop owner originally from Huai’an’s Xuyi County, which is renowned for its crayfish industry.

    Wuxi narrowly lost 2-1 in the Sunday clash, but Sun was far from disappointed. “The city may have lost on the pitch, but it has won in business. I’m all smiles.”

    Residents and tourists enjoy food while watching a game at Hubin Commercial Street in Binhu District, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. (Photo by He Leijing)

    According to Ji, the commercial complex has been transformed into a vast, pulsing network of viewing points, with three enormous LED screens beamed matches live and over 40 shops streaming the game indoors. “Even if you’re dining inside, just glance up, and you’re still part of the action,” she said. “It’s full immersion.”

    The “Su Chao” boom has also inspired a flood of creative merchandising. “We’re blending football with food, local crafts and street cultures. Everything from themed menus to local handicrafts and folk art is popping up,” Ji added. “It’s about sport, but also about storytelling and culture.”

    Elsewhere in Jiangsu, similar scenes repeat nightly, as the grassroots league is sparking new life into summer nightlife economies. In Wuxi alone, city authorities have designated 43 public viewing sites for fans to gather, ranging from bustling plazas and parks to neighborhood squares.

    For visiting Huai’an fan Chen Hongzhi, watching the match in Wuxi was only part of a longer holiday. “We watched the game, then took the kids to explore the Ling Shan scenic area,” he said. “They even gave out free peaches to our Huai’an fans! We’re staying a few more days to visit some other attractions.”

    Statistics show that the Ling Shan scenic area drew 40,000 tourists over the weekend, over 60 percent of whom came from Huai’an.

    “Winning or losing in the league doesn’t matter that much,” Chen said. “What matters is that people are part of something – part of a city, part of a story, part of the joy.”

    “I’ve been a football fan for years, but I never thought I’d see football become so woven into our everyday life,” he reflected. “It’s something new. It’s almost moving.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed, Whitehouse & Magaziner Announce $275K for RI Shipyard Modernization

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI – U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner today announced a new $274,596 federal grant for the J. Goodison Co. shipyard at the Quonset Business Park. The federal funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration Small Shipyards Grant program.

    The federal funds will be used by J. Goodison to modernize equipment and purchase 21 new welder units and a 200-ton press brake to enhance fabrication and welding capabilities. Reliable welding equipment will ensure that projects can be completed in the most efficient manner and reduce the need for outsourcing. This project will help increase the company’s capabilities, improve efficiency and productivity, and create opportunities to provide competitive service.

    “This is good news for J. Goodison and Rhode Island’s maritime industry. Ensuring Rhode Island shipyard’s have the best machinery available to meet their needs increases productivity and efficiency and expands capacity at Quonset. Small shipyards like J. Goodison make big contributions to our economy by building and maintaining the vessels that drive our economy. We’ve got to keep them competitive. I will continue working to bring investment to Rhode Island’s ports, shipbuilders, and shipyards,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee. Senator Reed led efforts to restore funding for the Small Shipyard program after it lapsed for several years.

    “I’m glad to join Senator Reed in helping ensure that Ocean State shipyards have everything they need to grow and create jobs,” said Senator Whitehouse. “Congratulations to J. Goodison on winning this competitive grant, which will support even more economic activity at Quonset.”

    “This federal funding will help J. Goodison modernize its operations, boost productivity, and create good-paying jobs right here in Rhode Island,” said Congressman Magaziner. “I will keep fighting to bring home funds that strengthen the state’s shipyards and grow the local maritime economy.”

    “We thank Senators Reed and Whitehouse and the entire Rhode Island Congressional delegation for their leadership in supporting this project,” said Jack Goodison, President and CEO of J. Goodison Co. “Our State and region succeed when we work together to modernize our shipyards with newer equipment that this grant will help fund.”

    Founded in 1999, J. Goodison is a veteran-owned small business specializing in full-service marine maintenance. In 2016, the company opened a waterfront shipyard facility in the Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown. Due to its location and capabilities, the shipyard has become an important asset for marine operators along the Eastern Seaboard. The commercial fishing industry, passenger ferry operators, marine towing operators, and the United States Coast Guard all rely on J. Goodison’s vessel repair services.

    MARAD’s Small Shipyard Grant Program is a competitive grant program designed to support small shipyard projects that make capital and related improvements or provide training for workers in shipbuilding, ship repair, and associated industries.

    In fiscal year 2024, the Small Shipyard Grant Program received 78 grant applications from shipbuilding or repair companies nationwide requesting just under $50 million. The program allocated $8.75 million in available federal funds.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed: Trump Admin. Must Restore Online Public Funding Tracker

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – Noting that federal tax dollars belong to the American people – not the President or federal agencies – U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today hailed a federal court ruling that the Trump Administration violated the law by taking down a public disclosure website that shows how taxpayer dollars are apportioned to federal agencies and ordered its reinstatement.

    The Constitution clearly mandates that Congress, not the executive branch, has the ‘power of the purse.’ The President signs funding bills and is statutorily responsible for apportioning funds for executive branch agencies to spend in accordance with Congress’s directive under the law. Historically, the responsibility for apportioning funds has been delegated to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) by executive order.

    In an effort to boost government transparency and accountability and ensure the American people know where their tax dollars are going, Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, helped pass a bipartisan provision in the Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 117-103), made permanent in 2023, requiring OMB to publicly disclose how federal funding is disbursed to federal agencies and make the information available on a publicly accessible website. Previously, OMB’s apportionment decisions were rarely made public. The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended making this information publicly available in 2021.

    The apportionment database was launched in the summer of 2022. But in March of 2025, the Trump Administration took down the website and dubiously attempted to justify its removal by claiming that apportionments contain deliberative and predecisional information and citing national security risks. However, apportionments are issued only after deliberation and are legally binding decisions that govern agency expenditures. Since March 24, 2025, the public website has been down, and OMB Director Russell Vought said OMB will no longer make apportionments available.

    “Americans deserve to know how their government is using their hard-earned resources, that the President is spending their tax dollars in accordance with the law, and is doing so in an effective and responsible manner. This website was like a dashboard to oversee and review executive branch stewardship of U.S. taxpayer funds. The Trump Administration sought to unlawfully conceal this information. Today’s ruling very clearly orders the Trump Administration to stop hiding data from the American people and reinstate this public website. It’s a positive step for taxpayers and the Trump Administration must comply with the law,” said Reed.

    The judge’s ruling stated: “There is nothing unconstitutional about Congress requiring the Executive Branch to inform the public of how it is apportioning the public’s money. Defendants are therefore required to stop violating the law!”

    The judge ordered the Trump Administration to reinstate the database. But at the Justice Department’s request, the judge paused the order until Thursday morning, so the Administration can decide if it will seek emergency relief from an appeals court.

    Bipartisan members of Congress have publicly declared the Trump Administration is required by law to operate the public website and ensure accountability for stewardship of taxpayer funds.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow Metro – Russia made its first payment in digital rubles under a smart contract for insuring the capital’s driverless tram

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Metro – Russia has made its first payment in digital rubles under a smart contract for insuring the capital’s driverless tram


    Moscow Metro – Russia has made its first payment in digital rubles as part of a smart contract for insuring the capital’s driverless tram.

    As Maxim Liksutov explained, the transaction was successfully completed in pilot mode between the insurance group “SOGAZ” and the metro with the support of VTB. The payment is not related to the occurrence of an insured event.

    The main advantages of digital rubles:

    Reliability. It is a digital form of national currency along with cash and non-cash funds

    Speed. Payments are processed automatically within 1 day within the smart contract

    Security. Complete transparency of transfers, payment for goods and services

    In early 2025, on the instructions of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, the Moscow Government concluded a smart contract to insure the first unmanned tram in Russia. The test payment proved the safety, transparency and high speed of fulfilling obligations using digital rubles. Online calculation of simulated damage and payment of compensation occurred within 1 day. In the future, digital rubles will become one of the ways to pay for travel and other transport services in the capital, said Maxim Liksutov.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The International Philanthropist Award for outstanding achievements of people with disabilities in the field of culture and art accepts applications until 31.08.2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Solid Bank – Solid Bank –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The partner of the financial house “Solid” the Foundation for the support of the disabled “Philanthropist” announces the start of collecting applications for participation in the XIII International Award “Philanthropist” for outstanding achievements of the disabled in the field of culture and art. The prize fund of each Laureate will be 200,000 rubles. Applications for the competition are accepted until August 31, 2025.

    Organizers

    Government of the Russian Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Government of Moscow Russian Academy of Arts All-Russian Society of Disabled People Philanthropist Foundation

    Nominations

    Performing Arts Fine Arts Literary Arts

    Awarded once every two years

    The bonus fund is formed from extra-budgetary sources.

    Each nomination has several sub-nominations.

    Special prizes

    “For the preservation of folk art traditions” “For novelty and originality in creativity” “Overcoming. Beyond the Possible” “To Growing Hopes” “To a statesman and public figure for providing effective assistance to disabled people and their public organizations” “Defender of the Fatherland” (The prize is awarded solely on the recommendation of the jury members from the nominations presented above to a disabled person who is a participant in local military conflicts or combat operations. Has a monetary equivalent). “For providing effective assistance to disabled people and their public organizations” – awarded to a statesman and/or public figure (has no monetary value); “To a philanthropist and patron of the arts” – awarded to business representatives for providing charitable and sponsorship assistance to disabled people and their public organizations (has no monetary value).

    The XIII Ceremony of the “International Philanthropist Award for Outstanding Achievements of Disabled People in Culture and Art” will be held on December 2, 2025 in Moscow. Executive Directorate of the Award – Philanthropist Foundation for the Support of Disabled People 101000, Moscow, Moroseyka St., Building 3/13, Building 1.

    Detailed information is available on the Foundation’s websiteGDV.filanthrop.ruTel.: 7 917 557-69-90

    Share the news on social networks

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Consumer NZ – Price it right: Consumer NZ launches campaign to stop misleading supermarket pricing

    Source: Consumer NZ

    A new petition calls for a mandatory supermarket pricing accuracy code, automatic compensation and tougher penalties.

    Consumer NZ has launched a new campaign – Price it right – calling on the government to crack down on misleading supermarket pricing practices that are costing shoppers tens of millions of dollars a year across Aotearoa.

    The consumer watchdog is urging the introduction of a mandatory supermarket pricing accuracy code, with clear rules, meaningful penalties and automatic compensation for consumers when supermarkets get it wrong.

    “We’re asking the government to step in and deal with misleading supermarket pricing,” said Jon Duffy, Consumer NZ chief executive.  

    “Too often, shoppers are charged more at the check-out than what’s shown on the shelf, or they’re misled in some other way. While pricing errors may seem minor on an individual basis, they add up when multiplied across the population. This isn’t OK, particularly at a time when people are struggling to pay their bills.”

    Recent Consumer research found that 62% of New Zealanders noticed pricing errors at the supermarket over the past year.

    “This isn’t just the occasional mistake – it’s an ongoing systemic problem that’s adding to the pain people are feeling at the check-out with food prices that are already too high,” said Duffy.

    Thanks to hundreds of complaints shared by consumers, Consumer filed a formal complaint with the Commerce Commission in 2023. That led to criminal charges being laid against Woolworths NZ and two Pak’nSave stores for misleading pricing. But the problem persists.

    “It’s already illegal for businesses to mislead consumers about prices, but the current law is not forcing supermarkets to up their game. They have had plenty of chances to fix this. The time for talk is over. It’s time for stronger rules with real consequences,” said Duffy.  

    Consumer’s Price it right campaign is calling for:

    • a mandatory supermarket pricing accuracy code with clear pricing rules 
    • automatic compensation when shoppers are overcharged – such as receiving the item free if the scanned price is higher than the shelf price, there is a special that doesn’t offer a genuine saving or the unit pricing is incorrect  
    • clear disclosure of consumer rights in store and online 
    • tougher penalties and infringement notice powers, like those used in Australia, to deter misleading pricing and promotions. 

    “We’re not asking for much – just fair and accurate pricing that consumers can trust,” said Duffy. “It’s a simple step that would make a real difference.”

    What you can do
    Consumer is asking New Zealanders to sign its petition and demand that the government take urgent action. Minister for economic growth Nicola Willis says she’s considering introducing tougher penalties for supermarkets that breach the Fair Trading Act and other changes to ensure shoppers are not misled by pricing. Signing the petition will show your support for these moves.  

    Sign the petition: Tell the government to ‘price it right’
    “It’s time supermarkets were held to account. By signing and sharing the petition, you’re helping stop misleading supermarket pricing and pushing for real change.” (ref. https://consumernz.cmail20.com/t/i-l-fkkjkyk-ijjdkdttjk-j/ )

     

    Note:

    Visit consumer.org.nz to view the campaign

     

    About Consumer

    Consumer NZ is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to championing and empowering consumers in Aotearoa. Consumer NZ has a reputation for being fair, impartial and providing comprehensive consumer information and advice.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NZ and allies condemn ‘inhumane’, ‘horrifying’ killings in Gaza and ‘drip feeding’ of aid

    RNZ News

    New Zealand has joined 24 other countries in calling for an end to the war in Gaza, and criticising what they call the inhumane killing of Palestinians.

    The countries — including Britain, France, Canada and Australia plus the European Union — also condemed the Israeli government’s aid delivery model in Gaza as “dangerous”.

    “We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food.”

    They said it was “horrifying” that more than 800 civilians had been killed while seeking aid, the majority at food distribution sites run by a US- and Israeli-backed foundation.

    “We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and to urgently enable the UN and humanitarian NGOs to do their life saving work safely and effectively,” it said.

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters . . . “The tipping point was some time ago . . . it’s gotten to the stage where we’ve just lost our patience.” Image: RN/Mark Papalii

    “Proposals to remove the Palestinian population into a ‘humanitarian city’ are completely unacceptable. Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law.”

    The statement said the countries were “prepared to take further action” to support an immediate ceasefire.

    Reuters reported Israel’s foreign ministry said the statement was “disconnected from reality” and it would send the wrong message to Hamas.

    “The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognise Hamas’s role and responsibility for the situation,” the Israeli statement said.

    Having NZ voice heard
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters told RNZ Morning Report, New Zealand had chosen to be part of the statement as a way to have its voice heard on the “dire” humanitarian situation in Gaza.

    “The tipping point was some time ago . . .  it’s gotten to the stage where we’ve just lost our patience . . . ”

    Peters said he wanted to see what the response to the condemnation was.

    “The conflict in the Middle East goes on and on . . .  It’s gone from a situation where it was excusable, due to the October 7 conflict, to inexcusable as innocent people are being swept into it,” he said.

    “I do think there has to be change. It must happen now.”

    The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

    Israel’s subsequent air and ground war in Gaza has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians — including at least 17,400 children, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry, while displacing almost the entire population of more than 2 million and spreading a hunger crisis.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NZ and allies condemn ‘inhumane’, ‘horrifying’ killings in Gaza and ‘drip feeding’ of aid

    RNZ News

    New Zealand has joined 24 other countries in calling for an end to the war in Gaza, and criticising what they call the inhumane killing of Palestinians.

    The countries — including Britain, France, Canada and Australia plus the European Union — also condemed the Israeli government’s aid delivery model in Gaza as “dangerous”.

    “We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food.”

    They said it was “horrifying” that more than 800 civilians had been killed while seeking aid, the majority at food distribution sites run by a US- and Israeli-backed foundation.

    “We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and to urgently enable the UN and humanitarian NGOs to do their life saving work safely and effectively,” it said.

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters . . . “The tipping point was some time ago . . . it’s gotten to the stage where we’ve just lost our patience.” Image: RN/Mark Papalii

    “Proposals to remove the Palestinian population into a ‘humanitarian city’ are completely unacceptable. Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law.”

    The statement said the countries were “prepared to take further action” to support an immediate ceasefire.

    Reuters reported Israel’s foreign ministry said the statement was “disconnected from reality” and it would send the wrong message to Hamas.

    “The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognise Hamas’s role and responsibility for the situation,” the Israeli statement said.

    Having NZ voice heard
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters told RNZ Morning Report, New Zealand had chosen to be part of the statement as a way to have its voice heard on the “dire” humanitarian situation in Gaza.

    “The tipping point was some time ago . . .  it’s gotten to the stage where we’ve just lost our patience . . . ”

    Peters said he wanted to see what the response to the condemnation was.

    “The conflict in the Middle East goes on and on . . .  It’s gone from a situation where it was excusable, due to the October 7 conflict, to inexcusable as innocent people are being swept into it,” he said.

    “I do think there has to be change. It must happen now.”

    The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

    Israel’s subsequent air and ground war in Gaza has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians — including at least 17,400 children, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry, while displacing almost the entire population of more than 2 million and spreading a hunger crisis.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China weaves stronger transport networks in 14th Five-Year Plan period

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

    BEIJING, July 21 — Over the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China has woven a more integrated and multidimensional transport network, making sweeping progress that has enhanced connectivity and underpinned economic growth.

    By the end of 2024, six out of 17 major transport targets set in the plan had been achieved ahead of schedule, including expressway and urban rail lengths, access to express parcel delivery in villages, and the share of new energy buses in urban public transport, Minister of Transport Liu Wei told a press conference on Monday.

    The remaining targets are expected to be achieved by the end of this year, the minister added.

    Liu noted that over the past five years, China’s transport sector has achieved “historic progress,” with over 90 percent of the core framework of the national comprehensive transport network already in place.

    Behind this progress is robust investment. From 2021 to 2024, fixed-asset investment in transport totaled 15.2 trillion yuan (about 2.1 trillion U.S. dollars), a 23.3 percent increase from the previous cycle.

    INTEGRATED CONNECTIVITY

    Stretching across land, sea and sky, China’s transport networks have evolved into vital arteries powering the country’s modernization.

    By the end of 2024, China’s railway network had reached 162,000 km in total operating length, an increase of about 16,000 km from the end of 2020. Of this, high-speed rail expanded by 10,000 km to exceed 48,000 km, covering 97 percent of cities with populations over 500,000.

    Highways stretched to 5.49 million km, up 290,000 km from five years earlier. Expressways accounted for 191,000 km, covering 99 percent of cities with a population of over 200,000.

    Certified civil airports increased to 263 by the end of 2024, 22 more than in 2020, Liu said, adding that air services now cover over 91 percent of the country’s population.

    In urban commuting, a diversified public transport system has provided strong support for daily mobility. Each day, about 100 million urban trips are made by rail, 100 million by bus, and 100 million by taxis and ride-hailing services. These figures highlight the capacity and vitality of China’s urban transport system, Liu said.

    Smart tools like online ticketing and digital payments have made travel more efficient and accessible, Liu said, adding that over 80 hub cities support air-rail intermodal transport.

    BRIDGING GAPS

    Improved transport and logistics are enhancing access across rural and less-developed areas, bringing services, markets and new opportunities within reach.

    As of end-2024, rural roads reached 4.64 million km, and over 30,000 townships and 500,000 administrative villages have been connected by paved roads, Liu said.

    “The last mile of rural roads is now accessible by cars,” the minister said, adding that rural roads are fueling the growth of new industries and tourism, creating local jobs, and raising farmers’ incomes.

    Express delivery services have also played an increasingly important role in narrowing gaps. China has built a three-tier logistics system linking counties, townships and villages, turning rural delivery weak points into engines of consumption and growth, Zhao Chongjiu, head of the State Post Bureau, said at the press conference.

    In 2024, express delivery volumes in central and western China rose by 30 percent and 34 percent, respectively, outpacing the national average, Zhao noted.

    In regions such as Qinghai and Gansu, newly launched mail and courier processing centers have significantly improved handling capacity, enhancing logistics infrastructure in western China, he added.

    GLOBAL LINKS

    China has expanded its global transport network over the past years, boosting connectivity and driving cross-border trade and cooperation.

    The China-Europe freight trains have carried out over 110,000 trips, and nearly 10,000 sea-rail intermodal trains were operated annually along the new western land-sea corridor, Liu said.

    Since its launch over three years ago, the China-Laos Railway has transported 13.9 million tonnes of cargo across more than 3,000 product categories, accelerating the delivery of a wider range of Southeast Asian agricultural products to Chinese consumers.

    China’s global air freight is also on the rise. Driven by booming e-commerce, international air cargo volume reached nearly 9 million tonnes in 2024, up 32.8 percent over 2020.

    China has been pushing for greater connectivity through the alignment of rules and regulations. It has signed over 270 bilateral and multilateral transport agreements covering rail, road, sea, air and postal sectors, according to Liu.

    China has also used international cooperation projects to deliver tangible benefits to local communities. For example, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has created over 74,000 jobs in Kenya, with a localization rate exceeding 90 percent and more than 2,800 railway professionals trained, Liu said.

    Looking ahead, China will accelerate the building of a strong transportation network through deeper integration, enhanced safety, smart upgrades and green transformation to support the country’s modernization drive, Liu added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Villagers pick water chestnuts in China’s Jiangsu

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

    Villagers pick water chestnuts in China’s Jiangsu

    Updated: July 22, 2025 07:16 Xinhua
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 18, 2025 shows villagers picking water chestnuts in Taizhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on July 21, 2025 shows villagers picking water chestnuts in Huaian, east China’s Jiangsu Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Joins Amicus Brief Urging Federal Appeals Court to Strike Down Trump’s Illegal Cost-Raising Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined colleagues in filing an amicus brief urging a federal appeals court to strike down Donald Trump’s illegal, cost-raising tariffs. The case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is an appeal of a decision made last month by the U.S. Court of International Trade, which ruled that the Trump Administration lacked authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a statute that no other president has ever used to levy tariffs. The senators and representatives argue in their brief that the lower court correctly ruled Trump’s actions are unlawful and that the President’s actions have caused chaos and uncertainty to businesses nationwide.
    “Nevadans are being squeezed by high costs and rising prices, and President Trump’s tariffs are effectively a new tax for hardworking families,” said Senator Rosen. “The Constitution gives Congress, not the President, the authority to regulate trade, and I’m urging the courts to reaffirm Congress’s authority. I’ll keep doing everything I can to repeal Trump’s sweeping, cost-raising tariffs.”
    The full amicus brief can be found HERE.
    Senator Rosen has helped lead the fight opposing Trump’s reckless tariffs. She signed on to a different amicus brief challenging them in court last month. Senator Rosen also helped introduce the Tariff Transparency Act, which would require the U.S. International Trade Commission to study and publicly report on the economic effects of tariffs on Canada and Mexico– key trading partners for Nevada industries. She also helped pass a bipartisan resolution to strike down Trump’s tariffs on Canada earlier this year, which is awaiting action in the House of Representatives.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI—Hagerty Joins Kudlow on Fox Business to Discuss GENIUS Act Signing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    WASHINGTON—Last week, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Banking Committee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, joined Kudlow on Fox Business live from the White House after President Donald Trump signed his GENIUS Act into law.
    *Click the photo above or here to watch*Partial Transcript
    Hagerty on the impact of the GENIUS Act: “What this [the GENIUS Act] does is it takes a payment system that was designed in the 1970s out of business. We go into the blockchain—much more efficient, much more effective. Trades that took five or 10 days to clear now can be done almost instantaneously. If you think about the working capital that comes out of the system, the counterparty risk that goes away, the currency risk if you’re doing a cross-border transaction—all of that is minimized because of the speed of these transactions.”
    Hagerty on increased demand for U.S. Treasuries: “In terms of the impact on the dollar and on Treasuries, I think that’s going to be very significant. The demand for U.S. treasuries is going to go up significantly. In fact, every projection shows that stablecoin issuers will become the largest holders of U.S. Treasuries, because every stablecoin in America has to be backed dollar-for-dollar by a U.S. Treasury or cash. That’s going to stimulate Treasury demand. That’s going to have a great impact on rates, bringing them down. It’ll help the Treasury secretary manage much better. And as we look at the environment we’re in right now, with rates too high and the cost of our debt too high, this is going to be a definite help.”
    Hagerty on global dollar dominance: “This [the GENIUS Act] will cement the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency of the world. People around the world would much rather own a decentralized, U.S. dollar-denominated currency that they know is backed up by U.S. Treasuries than a Chinese yuan or a euro, currencies that are centralized and controlled by their governments. This is going to be a far better product. And I think what this does is it takes us from being on our heels, which is where we were for the last four years, when the Biden administration waged war on the industry, and moves us into the 21st century.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow Metro – Russia conducted its first digital ruble payment as part of a smart contract for insuring the capital’s autonomous tram

    Source: Moscow Metro

    Russia conducted its first digital ruble payment as part of a smart contract for insuring the capital’s autonomous tram.

    Russia conducted its first digital ruble payment as part of a smart contract for insuring the capital’s autonomous tram. – Московский метрополитен – В России провели 1-й платеж цифровыми рублями в рамках смарт-контракта на страхование столичного беспилотного трамвая.

    As Maksim Liksutov reported, the transaction was successfully carried out in pilot mode between the insurance group SOGAZ and the metro, with the support of VTB Bank. The payment was not related to an actual insurance event.

    Key advantages of digital rubles:

    Reliability. This is a digital form of the national currency, alongside cash and non-cash funds.

    Speed. Payments are processed automatically within one day under a smart contract.

    Security. Full transparency of transfers, as well as payments for goods and services.

    At the beginning of 2025, on the instructions of Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, the Moscow Government signed a smart contract to insure Russia’s first autonomous tram. This test payment proved the safety, transparency, and high speed of fulfilling obligations using digital rubles. The online calculation of simulated damages and the payout of compensation were completed within one day. In the future, digital rubles will become one of the payment methods for fares and other transportation services in the capital, — said Maksim Liksutov.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Peters Reintroduces Bill to Help Tackle America’s Housing Crisis, Boost Public Transit Use

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

    Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-50) and Blake Moore (R-UT-01) and Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Jim Banks (R-IN) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Build More Housing Near Transit Act to encourage the construction of low- and middle-income housing in transit-served, walkable locations. Rep. Peters previously introduced a standalone House version of the legislation in 2019 and a bicameral version in 2021 and 2023.  

    The bill incentivizes the development of more housing near transit stops by tying the competition for federal transit funding to state and local housing plans along transit corridors. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the United States has a shortage of 7.1 million affordable rental homes. In San Diego County alone, there is a shortage of nearly 100,000 homes for extremely low-income renters and that gap is nearly one million homes statewide. It is clear California is not doing enough to keep pace with growing demand – in 2024, the state only permitted 114,069 homes, according to California’s Housing and Community Development Department. Since 2021, San Diego County has permitted only 48,765 homes, just 28.4 percent of the total needed to meet demand according to the Regional Housing Needs Allocation formula.  

    “The cost of housing remains the greatest barrier to prosperity in California, forcing people to move farther and farther from where they work, which means longer commutes and more air pollution,” said Rep. Peters. “Our bill will get more cars off the road by maximizing federal investments in public transportation and will increase affordable housing options for families across the country.  As a Co-Chair of the YIMBY Caucus and founding member of the growth–oriented Build America Caucus in Congress, I look forward to getting this commonsense legislation across the finish line to help relieve the pressure on cost-burdened Americans.” 

    “Housing has consistently been one of the most pressing issues for Utahns since I joined Congress. In some ways, Utah is a victim of its own success. Our incredible quality of life, economic opportunity, and low unemployment rates have put significant strains on our housing market, which has priced out young families from starter homes and presented major challenges to servicemembers at Hill Air Force Base,” said Rep. Moore. “I’m proud to introduce legislation that will condition federal transit grants on whether states are reducing zoning barriers for housing near new bus or rapid transit lines, something that Utah has already been doing for years through the leadership of partners such as UTA along the Wasatch Front and Connect in Cache Valley. The end result will bring more of Utah’s common-sense policies to Washington and help more families find affordable and accessible homes.” 

    “The clearest way out of our national housing shortage is by building more housing,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bipartisan bill incentivizes cities and towns to build housing when they expand or redevelop their public transit systems. This will help put more families in homes, grow local economies, and cut carbon pollution. It’s a win for everyone.” 

    “This bill makes it easier for communities to build homes for working families by cutting red tape and giving them the freedom to create strong, family-friendly neighborhoods near public transit,” said Senator Banks. 

    The Build More Housing Near Transit Act would direct the Department of Transportation to incentivize local governments to promote housing development and regional growth in and around the transit corridors of future New Starts projects. Specifically, this bill will amend U.S. Code Section 5309, which governs the application process for capital investment grants to: 

    • Direct the Secretary of Transportation to boost a transit project’s rating if the project includes pro-housing policies for areas along the project route; 
    • Define pro-housing policies as a state or local action to remove regulatory barriers to constructing or preserving housing, reduce or eliminate parking minimums or minimum lot sizes, establish by-right approval processes for multi-family housing, commit substantial public property to affordable housing development or preservation, and eliminate or raise residential property height limits; and 
    • Engage the Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop a methodology to evaluate the merits of the pro-housing policies documented in a CIG application. 

    A letter of support from more than 100 national, state, and local groups, including Circulate San Diego, is available here. A full list of supporting organizations is available here. 

    “In San Diego we have made a conscious effort to spur housing development along our growing public transit system,” said City of San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “The Build More Housing Near Transit Act will provide additional incentives to create affordable housing near transit, helping our region address both our housing affordability and climate crises.” 

    “America is experiencing a severe housing shortage that affects every aspect of American lives and the economy,” said Mike Kingsella, CEO of Up for Growth Action. “The Build More Housing Near Transit Act addresses the critical link between transportation and housing and would create greater access to affordable commutes and abundant housing. We applaud the lead sponsors for introducing this bill, serving as an example of how the federal government can use its leverage to ensure the right types of housing are available in the places people want to live. 

    “The United States needs to build millions of new homes and rental units for low- and middle-income Americans,” said David Dworkin, President and CEO, National Housing Conference (NHC). “The Build More Housing Near Transit Act would help unlock supply and smarter, more efficient development by linking housing and transit planning and development. Transit-oriented development can help reduce costs, grow local economies, increase affordable housing supply, and increase access to opportunities for families. The National Housing Conference is proud to endorse this legislation, and we are grateful to the leadership of Representatives Scott Peters and Blake Moore, and Senators Brian Schatz and Jim Banks.” 

    “For decades, the federal government has funded mass transit projects in cities whose growth control laws do not allow people to live near and ride on transit,” said Alex Armlovich, Senior Housing Policy Analyst, Niskanen Center. “The Build More Housing Near Transit Act finally corrects this. It protects transit riders and the federal taxpayer from spending scarce transit capital on projects doomed by rigid zoning regulations to low housing growth and low future ridership, while uplifting projects in localities that welcome housing & transit ridership growth. This bill is the essential first step in restoring bipartisan confidence in America’s mass transit investments for taxpayers and transit riders alike.” 

    Full text of the legislation here. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – ProCare welcomes announcement of new Waikato medical school as a commitment to strengthening primary care workforce

    Source: ProCare

    Leading healthcare provider, ProCare, warmly welcomes the announcement from Health Minister Simeon Brown and Universities Minister Dr Shane Reti that Cabinet has approved the establishment of a new medical school at the University of Waikato.

    While the school won’t open until 2028, the announcement includes a strong focus on primary care and rural health which is much needed.

    Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive of ProCare says: “With around 50% of GPs due to retire in the next 10 years this is a significant and timely investment in New Zealand’s healthcare workforce. The decision to prioritise primary care and rural health in the new Waikato Medical School aligns closely with the needs of our communities and the future of general practice.

    “This is more than ‘just’ a new medical school – it’s a long-term investment in the health and wellbeing of the people of Aotearoa New Zealand. We commend the Government for listening to the sector and taking decisive action,” continues Norwell.

    The graduate-entry programme will add 120 new doctor training places annually, helping to address the growing shortage of GPs and primary care clinicians across the motu.

    “General practices are already feeling the strain of being able to meet increasing patient demand – especially in our rural and underserved communities. This announcement is a proactive step toward ensuring continuity of care and equitable access to health services,” says Norwell.

    “This is a pivotal moment which will help reshape the pipeline of medical education. By creating more flexible pathways into medicine and embedding primary care at the heart of training, we can attract a more diverse and community-focused cohort of future doctors,” Norwell adds.

    The announcement also complements recent expansions in nursing, pharmacy, and midwifery programmes at the University of Waikato, reinforcing a holistic approach to workforce development.

    “It is unclear at this early stage exactly how the four-year degree programme will focus specifically on primary care, but we look forward to working collaboratively with the University and the Government to help support clinical placements of those graduates and ensure that students gain meaningful experience in general practice settings,” concludes Norwell.

    About ProCare

    ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to more than 830,000 people across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Economy – Current Economic Decline driven by Constrained Liquidity – Trend Analysis Network

    Source: Trend Analysis Network

    New Zealand’s economy is showing signs of strain, and a growing body of evidence points to liquidity shortages and over manipulated interest rates as key culprits.
    While global macroeconomic policies and domestic shifts play some part, the Reserve Bank’s aggressive interest rate strategy may have overcorrected, leaving the economy with limited liquidity.
    The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) raised the Official Cash Rate (OCR) from a pandemic low of 0.25% to a peak of 5.5%.
    This high rate was intended to tame inflation. Trend Analysis research demonstrated in 2023 that the inflationary measures were based on an over reliance of CPI (consumer price index) as a core indicator.
    Research showed that prior to the GFC, CPI and other inflationary measures were effectively identifying real inflation. However, post COVID the macro-economy environment changed and most markets proactively began to hide inflationary indicators.
    Prices had increased while goods delivered, the type and level of services, and manufactured products supplied to consumers saw substantive reductions in volume, scope, size, and quality. This hid core components of inflationary pressures.
    Moreover, we noted in our earlier release “RBNZ Potential Catalyst Of New Inflationary Cycle” that although indexed inflation had cooled in some areas, debt based inflation was rapidly growing and the over tightening had unintended consequences.
    Liquidity in financial markets has significantly declined, with investors and banks showing reduced appetite for risk and tightly managed credit extension.New research indicates that there is a lack of liquidity in the New Zealand economy. This liquidity crunch is not theoretical as it is playing out in the housing market.
    Despite a significant drop in home prices since the pandemic peak, affordability remains elusive. In lower-cost regions, new homes (priced below national averages) require mortgage repayments that exceed reasonable thresholds for most households.
    Even with large deposits, the 30-year mortgage repayments remain burdensome, especially as interest rates hover well above pre-pandemic norms. Such mortgage repayments based on current interest rates do not make financial sense to most potential buyers.
    Additionally, we find that housing inventory is now rising at an unsustainable rate. There are over 36,000 properties for sale nationwide. Yet buyers remain hesitant because borrowing costs are remain so prohibitive.
    This disconnect between price correction and repayment feasibility underscores the deeper issue: monetary policy has potentially throttled liquidity to the point of economic stagnation.
    New Zealand’s economic decline appears to be a result of not merely a cyclical but a structural decline.
    The over-manipulation of interest rates has drained liquidity, stifled investment, and distorted housing affordability. Moreover, it has induced a debt based inflation. One substantive example are regional councils that adjusted rates increases to compensate for increased borrowing costs reflected in the high interest rates.
    Until monetary policy recalibrates to support sustainable growth, the economy will remain in a downward loop of suppressed demand due to constrained liquidity.
    Trend Analysis Network is a think tank based in New Zealand created to identify and publish analytical results of future tr

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advocacy – Nicola Willis urged to step in now to get Kiwi food aid to Gaza – PSNZ

    Source: Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

     

    PSNA is urging the government to step in and require Paypal to refund money it refuses to pass on starving families in Occupied Gaza.

     

    Paypal has been freezing accounts which send money to Occupied Gaza – the latest being the account of Wellington-based writer “Emily Writes” who has posted about her sickening experiences here.

     

    “Paypal is happy to provide backup to Israel’s genocide by ensuring food is only available through the Israeli military which is using it to ethnically cleanse starving Palestinians from the north to the south of the Occupied Gaza strip” says PSNA Co-Chair John Minto.

     

    “Using food aid like this is a war crime and we are asking Minister of Finance Nicola Willis to step in and demand Paypal allow kiwis to donate to starving families in Gaza”

     

    “Low and middle-income New Zealanders kiwis are naturally generous but Paypal is not only freezing these accounts but are refusing to refund the money.”

     

    “The New Zealand government has refused to condemn Israel’s mass killing and mass starvation of Palestinians but they can insist money from New Zealanders wanting to help is not frozen for six months while Israel’s war on humanity continues”

     

    We are waiting to hear back from the minister.

     

    John Minto 

    Co-Chair PSNA

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advocacy – Peters fails again – time for real action on Occupied Gaza – PSNA

    Source:  Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA)

     

    The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa says New Zealand’s signature on a joint statement of 25 countries on Gaza is meaningless without concrete action.

     

    PSNA Co-Chair John Minto says Peters’ statements in the media this morning, fall well short of the condemnation in the joint statement, and are what Minto calls the usual ducking the issue of Israeli culpability.

     

    “Peters still can’t bring himself to criticise Israel in Gaza – even after 21 months of mass killing and mass starvation of Palestinians.  He condemns a suffering situation, but carefully avoids stating who it causing it.”

     

    Minto says there is an extensive list of actions the government must take if it’s serious.

     

    “I’m sure the Israeli ambassador in Wellington is happily reporting to his ministry in Tel Aviv that the New Zealand government is still tolerating mass starvation, bombing civilians and ethnic cleansing.” Minto says.

     

    “If the New Zealand government was serious, it would implement this list”:

     

    1.       Back the call from UN Special Rapporteur for the OPT, Francesca Albanese, for military protection for aid convoys to enter Gaza.

    2.       Close the Israeli embassy in Wellington

    3.       End trade and investment ties with Israel

    1. Deny entry visas for all Israeli Defence Forces personnel

    5.       Introduce legislation to sanction Israel the same as the Russia Sanctions Act

    6.       Cease approval for Rakon to export crystal oscillators which may be used by the Israeli military for targeting Gaza and other Israeli assault zones

    7.       Ban all Rocket Lab launches of satellites used for Israeli reconnaissance over Gaza

    8.       Suspend all bilateral agreements with Israel; movie co-production, overflight agreement and technological cooperation

    9.       Stop remittances going to Israel, such as funds for the racist Jewish National Fund

    10.   Cut scientific, academic, sport and cultural ties with the State of Israel

    11.   Sell all New Zealand’s Superfund investments in Israeli companies

    12.   Vote to suspend Israeli membership of the United Nations for not withdrawing from all the Occupied Palestinian Territory

    13.   Cease approving Israeli munitions transporter ZIM Shipping using our ports

    14.   Join the case against Israeli genocide in the International Court of Justice

    15.   Sign onto the Hague Group of countries working to ensure Israel complies with International Law  https://thehaguegroup.org/home/

     

     

    John Minto

    Co-Chair

    Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Everyone’s talking about the Perseid meteor shower – but don’t bother trying to see it in Australia or NZ

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland

    View of the 2023 Perseid meteor shower from the southernmost part of Sequoia National Forest, US. NASA/Preston Dyches

    In recent days, you may have seen articles claiming the “best meteor shower of the year” is about to start. Unfortunately, the hype is overblown – particularly for observers in Australia and New Zealand.

    The shower in question is the Perseids, one of the “big three” – the strongest annual meteor showers. Peaking in the middle of the northern summer, the Perseids are an annual highlight for observers in the northern hemisphere.

    As a result, every year social media around the world runs rife with stories about how we can enjoy the show. For an astronomer in Australia, this is endlessly frustrating – the Perseids are impossible to see for the great majority of Australians and Kiwis.

    Fortunately, there are a few other meteor showers to fill the void, including a pair that will reach their peak in the next seven days.

    What are the Perseids?

    Every year, Earth runs into a stream of debris laid down over thousands of years by comet 109P/Swift–Tuttle. The comet swings around the Sun every 133 years or so, shedding dust and debris each time. Over the millenia, that material has spread to create a vast stream.

    Animation of comet Swift–Tuttle’s orbit from 1850 to 2150. The blue orbit is Earth, magenta is the comet, with Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus’s orbits in green, red and yellow respectively.
    Phoenix7777/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    Earth starts to run into debris from Swift–Tuttle in mid-July, and takes six weeks to pass through the stream. When the dust and debris hit Earth’s atmosphere, the resulting meteors create bright streaks in the sky – a meteor shower.

    For most of that time, the dust we encounter is very widely spread, and so few meteors are seen. Around August 12, Earth reaches the densest part of the Perseid stream and the shower reaches its peak.

    The Perseids aren’t even the ‘best’ meteor shower

    Comet Swift–Tuttle last passed through the inner Solar System in 1992. With the comet nearby, Earth encountered more dust and debris, making the Perseids the best meteor shower of the year.

    In the decades since, the comet has receded to the icy depths of the Solar System, and the peak rates for the Perseids have fallen off.

    The “best” (most abundant) meteor shower of the year is now the Geminids. However, for people in the northern hemisphere, the Perseids are still well worth looking out for.

    The curse of the spherical Earth

    All meteor showers have a “radiant“– the point at which meteors seem to originate in the sky. This is because, for a given shower, all the debris hitting Earth comes from the same direction in space.

    The debris from comet Swift–Tuttle crashes towards Earth from above the north pole, and at an angle. As a result, for people at a latitude of 58 degrees north, the Perseid radiant would be directly overhead in the early hours of the morning.

    If a meteor shower’s radiant is below the horizon, you won’t see any meteors – Earth is in the way, and all the dust and debris is hitting the other side of the planet. It’s exactly the same reason you can’t see the Sun at nighttime.

    Given the location of the Perseid radiant, it will never rise for observers south of 32 degrees. This means anyone below that line will never see any Perseids.

    In theory, anyone north of 32 degrees south latitude can see the Perseids – but there are other complications.

    The higher a shower’s radiant is in the sky, the more meteors you will see. This is why the Perseids can’t put on a great show for people in Australia. Even in the far north of Australia, the Perseid radiant remains low in the sky at its highest. For most Australians, the Perseids will be a spectacular disappointment.

    Look for these meteor showers instead

    If you’re keen to see a meteor shower from Australia or New Zealand, it’s best to cross the Perseids off your list. Fortunately, there are other options.

    Every May, Earth passes through debris left behind by comet 1P/Halley, creating the Eta Aquariid meteor shower – only visible in the hours before dawn. For Australian observers, that’s the second best shower of the year.

    At the end of July each year, two minor meteor showers reach their peaks: the Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids. This year, they peak on 29 and 30 July, with the best views coming in the hours around midnight. It’s a perfect time to head out to a dark sky site and relax under the stars – the centre of the Milky Way is high overhead in the evening sky, and these two showers provide some added fireworks to make the sky extra special.

    Then, in December, comes the true “best shower of the year” – the Geminids. Reaching a peak on 14 and 15 December, the Geminids always put on a spectacular show. Unlike the Perseids, it can be seen from all across our island continent and in Aotearoa.

    If you really want to see a great meteor shower, skip the Perseids and plan to head somewhere dark this summer, to spend a couple of nights relaxing under the stars.

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

    – ref. Everyone’s talking about the Perseid meteor shower – but don’t bother trying to see it in Australia or NZ – https://theconversation.com/everyones-talking-about-the-perseid-meteor-shower-but-dont-bother-trying-to-see-it-in-australia-or-nz-261365

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes Rep. Young Kim’s Bipartisan Bill to Support Small Businesses 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed the Improving Access to Small Business Information Act (H.R. 3351), a bipartisan bill led by U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), to streamline federal regulations and better support small businesses. 

    This bill specifies that certain actions of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Office Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation (Advocate) —such as conducting field surveys—are not a collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). This allows the Advocate to prioritize facilitating access to capital without bureaucratic delays. 

    Watch Rep. Kim speak on the floor in support of the bill HERE. 

    “California is home to over 4.2 million small businesses. Burdensome regulations are getting in the way of the federal government collecting basic data on small business challenges, hurting our government’s ability to support entrepreneurs,” said Rep. Young Kim. “The Improving Access to Small Business Information Act cuts through unnecessary red tape so the Office of the Advocate can ask the right questions, collect timely feedback, and do its job — help small businesses access capital and grow.” 

    The Improving Access to Small Business Information Act passed the House with strong bipartisan support and now heads to the Senate for consideration.  

    Read more about the bill HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes Bill to Secure Unique Zip Code for North Tustin

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3095, a bipartisan bill to direct the United States Postal Service (USPS) to designate single, unique zip codes for certain communities, including North Tustin in California’s 40th District. 

    U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) joined a bipartisan delegation led by Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-04) to introduce the bill in May. She also cosponsored the bill in the 118th Congress, which passed the House. 

    Watch Rep. Kim speak in support of the bill on the House floor here. 

    “Our North Tustin community has been a pillar of Orange County, but its status as an unincorporated area causes confusion for taxes and USPS. A unique zip code would provide certainty for residents who have called North Tustin home for decades,” said Congresswoman Kim. “I thank Rep. Boebert for working with my office to include North Tustin in this important initiative and am hopeful we can get this through the finish line for our community.” 

    “I am pleased to see this zip code change moving ahead and thank Congresswoman Kim for working with my office to prioritize this issue facing our shared constituency,” said Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner (Third District). “For far too long, our constituents in North Tustin have been subjected to excess local taxes solely because of their zip code. They never voted for the taxes, raising a constitutional concern of taxation without representation. I appreciate Congresswoman Kim’s persistent work to solve this problem through legislation.”  

    “The residents of North Tustin, CA are very grateful to Congresswoman Young Kim for co-sponsoring a bill that will create a unique ZIP code for North Tustin. Until 1996, North Tustin had a unique ZIP code. Expanding the area of the ZIP code into neighboring communities created many problems and confusion. We really applaud our Congresswoman for supporting our community,” said Richard Nelson, President, Foothill Communities Association.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Rodrigo De Paul to join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami

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

    FIFA World Cup winner Rodrigo de Paul is on the verge of completing a move from Atletico Madrid to Inter Miami, after it was confirmed the Argentinian did not travel with his team-mates for Atletico’s first day of training ahead of the new season.

    Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga (C) vies with Atletico de Madrid’s Rodrigo de Paul (R) during the Spanish league (La Liga) football match between Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Feb. 4, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

    Following the club’s disappointing early exit from the FIFA Club World Cup, Atletico resumed training on Monday without the 31-year-old.

    De Paul is putting the finishing touches to his move to play alongside Lionel Messi and former Barcelona players Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

    He joined Atletico from Italian side Udinese in the summer of 2021 and has played 186 times for Diego Simeone’s team, scoring 14 goals. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Liverpool agree £79m deal for striker Hugo Ekitike

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

    Liverpool have officially announced that they have reached an agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt over the signing of striker Hugo Ekitike in a deal worth 79 million pounds (106 million U.S. dollars).

    Joe Scally (L) of Borussia Moenchengladbach vies with Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt during the first division of Bundesliga football match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Eintracht Frankfurt in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Feb. 8, 2025. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)

    In a statement released on Monday, the club confirmed: “The Reds and the German outfit have struck a transfer deal said to be worth 69 million pounds plus 10 million pounds in add-ons.”

    Ekitike is expected to travel to Merseyside later this week to undergo a medical and finalize a long-term contract with manager Arne Slot’s team.

    The 23-year-old Frenchman was an unused substitute in Eintracht’s pre-season friendly on Saturday as negotiations regarding his future continued. Ekitike scored 22 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions last season, helping Eintracht secure qualification for the Champions League.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The One Big Beautiful Bill Cuts Taxes for Workers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–The One Big Beautiful Bill Act invests in workers, delivering on President Trump’s promises to end tax on tips and overtime for millions of hardworking Americans. It also lessens the administrative burden on gig workers and small businesses.
    “This legislation enables the tipped and hourly workers who keep our economy running to keep more of each hard-earned paycheck,” said Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).
    Key wins:
    No tax on tips for millions of tipped workers.
    No tax on overtime for millions of America’s hourly workers.
    Repeals the Democrats’ onerous IRS reporting requirements on gig workers.
    Increases the 1099-MISC threshold, reducing the paperwork burden for small businesses and workers.
    What they are saying:
    “We greatly appreciate the Senate’s inclusion of other AICPA priorities in its bill, particularly: repealing the American Rescue Plan Act’s lowered threshold for Form 1099-K to $600 for an unlimited number of transactions; and increasing the filing threshold for Forms 1099-NEC and Forms 1099-MISC from $600 to $2,000, adjusted for inflation.” – AICPA
    “The Coalition for 1099-K Fairness strongly supports the Senate Finance package’s inclusion of language to raise the 1099-K reporting threshold. This commonsense provision would increase the threshold to over $20,000 in total payments and more than 200 transactions per calendar year—effectively stopping the implementation of a burdensome $600 threshold, regardless of transaction count, scheduled to take effect in 2026 under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP).” – Coalition for 1099K Fairness
     

    MIL OSI USA News –