NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HAD’s Emergency Co-ordination Centre in operation

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    HAD’s Emergency Co-ordination Centre in operation 
    Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
     
         As the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal has been issued, the Home Affairs Department’s Emergency Co-ordination Centre is now in operation.
     
         The Home Affairs Department will open temporary shelters for people in need of temporary accommodation.
     
         For details, please contact the centre on 2572 8427.
    Issued at HKT 9:51

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RI Delegation Welcomes $1.5 Million In TRIO Funds to Help RI College Students Succeed

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – As Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation continues working to make college more affordable and protect Pell grants from budget cuts, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today announced $1.5 million in federal funding to support existing college success and completion programs at Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and Rhode Island College (RIC) through the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program.  For fiscal year 2025, CCRI will receive $949,145 and RIC will receive $544,728 in TRIO funding.

    TRIO is a federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Education.  TRIO represents the largest federal investment aimed at assisting low-income or first-generation college students or individuals with disabilities to successfully advance through the academic pipeline and navigate academic and financial barriers.

    First-generation college students, those who meet low-income qualifications, or those with a disability are eligible to apply for TRIO.  In order to help these students navigate college life, the SSS program offers specialized tutoring, along with workshops on issues like financial literacy, leadership development, and finding a career path.  The federal program is designed to increase graduation rates and help students transfer from two-year to four-year colleges.

    Last year, Congress appropriated $1.2 billion for the program.  This year, the Trump Administration is seeking to eliminate federal funding for TRIO programs.

    “TRIO helps students not only get on the college track, but succeed once they are on campus.  It helps them acclimate to college life and prepares them to overcome key higher education hurdles.  Through skills workshops, summer learning, and other support services, this program can be a real lifeline for first-generation college students.  It teaches them things like time management, good study habits, and helps set them up for success in the college classroom and beyond.  I am proud of the work CCRI and RIC are doing and will continue working to ensure more deserving students have the opportunity to attend college and the resources to afford it,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, who got into a notable back and forth with Education Secretary Linda McMahon over TRIO funding at a recent hearing.  Reed had to set the record straight and disabuse the Secretary of Education of the incorrect notion that the federal government has spent over $1 trillion on TRIO programs.

    “TRIO programs have opened the door to higher education for many first-generation college students and students facing other obstacles,” said Whitehouse.  “This federal funding will support the outstanding work CCRI and RIC do to bring higher education within reach for more Rhode Islanders.”

    “Every student deserves a fair shot at college success, and the TRIO Student Support Services program provided at CCRI and RIC help make that possible by providing the mentorship, tools, and support students need to thrive,” said Magaziner. “I will keep fighting to protect federal education funding and expand programs like TRIO that open the doors of opportunity for more Rhode Islanders and strengthen the state’s workforce.”

    “Every student deserves the tools to reach their full potential. Today’s federal TRIO grant brings $1.5 million to support first-generation and low-income students at the Community College of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “But let’s be clear, Trump’s budget proposal to eliminate TRIO funding is a direct threat to these students and the progress we’ve made. I’m fighting in Congress to protect these programs, defend educational opportunity, and ensure that Rhode Islanders aren’t left behind.”

    CCRI’s successful TRIO SSS program, known as “Access to Opportunity,” was first launched in 1980 and serves approximately 440 CCRI students annually.  Previous graduates have gone on to a variety of careers, including some current full-time and adjunct faculty and staff at CCRI.

    Rhode Island College offers its TRIO programs through the Center for Scholar Development.  These programs are designed to provide educational pathways in an affirming environment for first-generation scholars.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Welcomes $7M Federal Grant for URI Microplastics Research

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    WASHINGTON, DC – Researchers have estimated that the bottom of Narragansett Bay is now covered with a layer of tiny plastic particles, commonly referred to as ‘microplastics,’ that is about 2 inches deep.

    While microplastics are found everywhere these days, from products on the shelves to streams across the planet, experts are racing to better understand and inform the public about the impacts that these pollutants have on public health, ecosystems, and the environment.

    These scientists include URI associate professor of chemical, biomolecular, and materials engineering, Daniel Roxbury, who is leading a URI research team dedicated to informing local communities about the dangers of microplastics and key steps to take in reducing plastics pollution. Roxbury’s research team was just awarded $7 million in federal research funding through the National Science Foundation (NSF) EPSCoR E-RISE Program.

    Senator Reed, a longtime proponent of the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program at NSF, welcomed the funding and thanked URI researchers for helping to increase knowledge about microplastics and better inform local, state, and national mitigation plans for plastics pollution.

    “Microplastics are a macro-problem. We need comprehensive, coordinated action to help protect people, communities, and public and environmental health.  Researchers at URI have been on the cutting-edge of this kind of discovery,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee who advocates each year for increased NSF research funding and has led efforts to ensure Rhode Island’s eligibility for the EPSCoR program since 2004.  “This federal investment in URI’s important research comes at a time when the Trump Administration’s attacks on higher education and federal research funding threatens our understanding of science and the world we live in.  But developing a better understanding of microplastics is not a partisan issue – it’s a public health, economic, and environmental imperative.  I’m proud of the top-notch work Rhode Island scientists are doing and will continue fighting to support their work with federal research investments.”

    EPSCOR is designed to fulfill NSF’s mandate to promote scientific progress nationwide.  Through the program, NSF establishes partnerships with government, higher education, and industry that are designed to effect lasting improvements in a state’s or region’s academic research infrastructure, research and development (R&D) capacity, and hence, its national R&D competitiveness.

    Researchers and scientists at URI will use the $7 million federal grant to advance a four year project in partnership with local stakeholders and other colleges and universities, such as Brown University, Roger Williams University, and Rhode Island College, to educate Rhode Islanders about microplastics in the coastal ecosystem and develop better tracking, modeling, and research processes that help identify sources of pollution.

    The research project also aims to better understand the impact of microplastics on the livelihoods of Rhode Islanders who work on the Bay or in other local coastal waters.  

    Last August, Senator Reed joined Save the Bay and top researchers from Roger Williams University and URI to discuss the threat of microplastics and outline steps that households, communities, and elected officials can take to better protect people from the threat of microplastic pollution and preserve access to clean, safe water. Reed and the advocates called for stepped-up research, regulation, and coordinated action around plastic pollution.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: July 9th, 2025 Heinrich Urges Trump DOE and DOI Nominees to Lower Energy Costs, Keep Americans Safe, and Maintain America’s Competitive Edge

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — In his opening statement, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, grilled several pending Trump Administration nominees on the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget request and his Big, Beautiful Betrayal bill, which will raise costs on American families by gutting investments in energy efficiency and clean energy programs. Ranking Member Heinrich additionally sought commitments to enforce surface mining laws and regulations, and pressed the nominees on the need to maintain U.S. competitiveness and secure global economic alliances with our allies.

    The hearing considered the nominations of Lanny Erdos to be the Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement of the Department of the Interior; Audrey Robertson to be Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Timothy Walsh to be Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management, and David Eisner to be Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs.

    VIDEO: Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivers opening remarks on the nominations of several pending Trump Administration officials before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, July 9, 2025.

    “One of President Trump’s first acts after being sworn in for his second term was to abandon our efforts to transition to a clean energy economy,” Heinrich said in his opening remarks, zeroing in on how Republicans will raise utility costs on American families with their cuts to critical programs. “The Department has announced plans to cut dozens of energy efficiency rules that save consumers hundreds of dollars on their utility bills annually. It has proposed a 74 percent reduction in next year’s budget for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. These cuts combined with the rollback of the clean energy tax credits in the reconciliation bill that Republicans supported will undoubtedly drive up energy prices.”

    Heinrich continued, “The reconciliation bill alone is estimated to increase annual energy costs more than $16 billion in 2030 and more than $33 billion by 2035. And American families will bear those increased costs.  I need to ask you, Ms. Robertson, whether you intend to continue the Department’s longstanding efforts to improve energy efficiency and develop renewable energy sources or whether you plan to abandon those programs.”

    A video of Heinrich’s opening remarks is here.

    A transcript of Heinrich’s remarks as delivered is below:

    Thank you, Chairman Lee.  And welcome Mr. Erdos, Ms. Robertson, Mr. Walsh, and Mr. Eisner.

    The Committee meets today to consider nominations to four very different offices.

     They range from expertise in coal mining to energy efficiency and renewable energy; from cleaning up nuclear weapons sites to international affairs.

    Two things that the four jobs have in common, however, is their importance and the responsibility the office holders will have to do well by the American people.

    Our task this morning, as in every confirmation hearing, is to determine how the nominees we are asked to entrust with these important offices plan to use them to do well by the American people. 

    Mr. Erdos has the advantage of having been nominated and confirmed to the position 5 years ago.  

    And while much may have changed in the past 5 years, the need for the Office of Surface Mining to protect communities and the environment during mining, to restore the land after mining, and to reclaim abandoned mine lands remains as great as ever.

    Indeed, the need may be even greater as this Administration seeks to increase coal production.

    We need your assurance, Mr. Erdos, that you remain committed to enforcing our surface mining laws and regulations and to restoring and reclaiming abandoned mine lands.

    Similarly, we seek assurances from you, Mr. Walsh, that you will work diligently to clean up the environmental legacy of the Manhattan Project and Cold War weapons sites.

    Secretary Wright testified last month that the Department remains committed to the cleanup program, and we want to hear that commitment from you as well.

    I harbor greater concerns for your offices, Ms. Robertson and Mr. Eisner. One of President Trump’s first acts after being sworn in for his second term was to abandon our efforts to transition to a clean energy economy. 

    The Department has announced plans to cut dozens of energy efficiency rules that save consumers hundreds of dollars on their utility bills annually. 

    It has proposed a 74 percent reduction in next year’s budget for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.

    These cuts combined with the rollback of the clean energy tax credits in the reconciliation bill that Republicans supported will undoubtedly drive up energy prices.

    The reconciliation bill alone is estimated to increase annual energy costs more than $16 billion in 2030 and more than $33 billion by 2035. And American families will bear those increased costs.

    I need to ask you, Ms. Robertson, whether you intend to continue the Department’s longstanding efforts to improve energy efficiency and develop renewable energy sources or whether you plan to abandon those programs.

    I am similarly concerned by the 40 percent reduction in the Department’s budget request for International Affairs and this Administration’s apparent disdain for our allies and global alliances. 

    The work of DOE’s International Affairs office is critical to maintaining U.S. competitiveness and securing economic alliances with our allies.

    And I will seek your assurance, Mr. Eisner, that the Department will remain committed to working with our allies on international energy issues.

    I look forward to hearing from our nominees on these and other issues this morning, and I appreciate their willingness to take on these important and challenging responsibilities.

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: July 9th, 2025 Heinrich Grills Trump Administration Nominee on Maintaining a Robust Energy Grid That Keeps Utility Costs Low for Families, Oil Spills in New Mexico

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — During a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to consider Trump’s Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of the Interior (DOI) nominees, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Committee, grilled Audrey Robertson, an oil and gas executive, who is nominated to spearhead DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office, on energizing our grid with renewables to keep costs low for families, and her record of managing oil spills in New Mexico as the co-founder and an executive of Franklin Mountain Energy.

    VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M), Ranking Member of the U.S. Energy and Natural Resources Committee, grills DOI and DOE nominees.

    On Maintaining a Robust Energy Grid to Keep Costs Low for Families

    Heinrich began by questioning Audrey Robertson on Texas’ grid, “I’ve been looking closely at NERC’s 2025 summer reliability assessment in Texas. Texas added seven gigawatts of solar power in 2024, nearly seven and a half gigawatts of battery storage in 2024 alone, which is helping the state meet growing electricity demand from AI data centers and some of the things that you’ve articulated. As a result of those additional capacities, the risk of power emergencies has dropped to just 3% now, as opposed to 15% a little over a year ago. So, Ms. Robertson, do you agree that in the face of rising demand, that the grid requires more, not less affordable, reliable energy?”

    Robertson responded, “Undoubtedly the grid demands and we need to deliver more reliable, affordable, secure energy. Are you specifically asking about best systems, or solar systems?”

    Heinrich pressed, “Looking at Texas, would you agree that deploying both energy storage in tandem with renewable energy technologies can actually increase grid reliability, hold prices down and add new generation sources?”

    Robertson followed, “It certainly has the capability to do that. Texas still relies primarily on natural gas as its base load power, and that has to be the base load and the maximum because solar, solar plus wind, excuse me, solar plus batteries can provide a number of benefits, both at a large scale and a small scale, but we have yet to see the 5 or 10 year implications of these large battery systems, which unfortunately or ironically, the environments that are wonderful for solar Texas are not great for batteries. And so battery degradation and the life, the lifetime of a utility scale battery is something that is going to be a further effort of my Department, if I’m so fortunate to be confirmed. But those technologies have yet to play out.”

    Heinrich countered, “I would beg to differ. In New Mexico, we were an early adopter of grid scale storage. At this point in my personal grid in the Albuquerque area, we’re not only 35% solar, 7% nuclear, 15% wind, but using 15% battery storage, we’ve been able for a number of years now to maintain a high level of reliability, and not just a high level of reliability, but a low retail cost, which is the other thing that American consumers care about. I pay about 10.8 cents. Now I rarely pay that, because I have solar on my roof at a scale that I don’t get an electric bill most months. But when I do, I pay 10.8% – 10.8 cents, which is, if you look at the country as a whole, much lower than what you see in the Midwest and the East.”

    On Oil and Gas Spills in New Mexico

    Heinrich pressed Robertson on her company’s record of oil and gas spills in New Mexico, “Ms. Robertson, I wanted to ask you, give you something that’s been raised to me, and I wanted to give you a chance to speak to it is that Franklin Mountain Energy has had a number of both Clean Air Act [violations] and spills in the state of New Mexico, several dozen spills, in fact. And what would you just say to my constituents that are concerned about that record in the Permian?”

    Robertson responded, “Senator Heinrich, happy to speak to that. Franklin Mountain Energy is now sold, but when we built this company from a few barrels a day to over 65,000 barrels a day of oil production. Growing an organization from raw BLM leases in Southeast New Mexico, to running five rigs at one time is a massive 24/7 manufacturing operation for which our team has an outstanding safety record and an outstanding EPA air quality record. We did have a number of violations that were cited, the vast majority of those were remedied within a day or two. The majority of those issues came from third party equipment that were on our facilities. We take great pride in both building and operating some of the most remarkable oil and gas facilities in the United States and in this great state of New Mexico. So I guess… Having spills is part of running a big, complicated business. There is not an oil and gas company that can move the amount of fluid, gas, and people that we do without having an occasional spill, but our record within the community is outstanding, and I’m very proud of them.”

    Heinrich responded, “I appreciate your response to that. I think that while these impacts are reality, they also have very real impacts on my constituents and so I think the goal as challenging as it should, should be zero. But I appreciate your focus on that and your response to those questions.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Shenzhou-19 astronauts meet press after return from space

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

    Astronauts Cai Xuzhe (C), Song Lingdong (R) and Wang Haoze from China’s Shenzhou-19 crewed mission salute during a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, July 9, 2025. The three astronauts met the press on Wednesday, their first public appearance after returning to Earth in April. [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, July 9 — The three astronauts from China’s Shenzhou-19 crewed mission met the press on Wednesday, their first public appearance after returning to Earth in April.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Campaign takes aim at tour operators

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

    China is taking action against tour operators who engage in illegal practices — including forcing travelers to shop at designated stores — with the aim of protecting consumers and ensuring a safe and more enjoyable travel experience.

    The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, together with the Ministry of Public Security and the State Administration for Market Regulation, has launched a yearlong campaign to tighten supervision and enforcement over “forced shopping” practices, which involve pressuring tourists to buy goods at specific stores in exchange for rebates.

    The culture and tourism ministry on Wednesday also published a list of 12 companies and three individuals accused of violating tourism regulations, including operating without licenses, forcing tourists to shop and organizing low-priced tours with hidden additional payments. The ministry said it will continue updating the list to deter dishonest operators.

    “The practice of forced shopping has severely infringed upon tourists’ rights, and stronger government action is required,” Yu Changguo, deputy director of market management at the ministry, said at a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

    Authorities will work together to crack down on operators that lure travelers with unusually low-priced tours, then pressure them into shopping at designated stores while collecting commissions. Other illegal activities, including unauthorized business operations, fraudulent advertising and price manipulation, will also incur strict punishment, officials said.

    With the summer travel peak underway during the July-August school vacation period, the ministry said it will send undercover inspection teams to online travel platforms, brick-and-mortar agencies and popular destinations to check for forced shopping practices and potential safety hazards at entertainment sites.

    The Ministry of Transport said that railway passenger trips from July 1 to Aug 31 are expected to reach 953 million, a year-on-year increase of 5.8 percent.

    Liu Nan, an official at the culture and tourism ministry, said the government will intensify efforts to tackle tourism-related cases involving large sums of money or that have a significant social impact.

    “We hope that tourists whose rights have been violated can keep their tourism contracts, travel itineraries, payment records and chat or video evidence, and report promptly to the authorities,” Liu said.

    Yu also warned travelers to watch out for fraudulent tourism ads and low-priced tours that may not disclose additional fees or risks of property loss. He advised travelers to check the credentials of travel agencies and qualifications of guides and avoid booking tours without standard contracts.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Speaks Out Against President Trump’s Efforts to Cut Federal Funding for Public Broadcasting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    Welch Defends Corporation for Public Broadcasting, National Public Radio, Public Broadcasting Service 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, spoke out against President Trump’s request to cut $9.4 billion in federal funding—which was already appropriated by Congress—including $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. If Senate Republicans approve the President’s request, $700 million of federal funding for local public media would be rescinded, impacting more than 1,500 public radio and TV stations across the country. 
    “One of the things that allows us to be united, despite our differences, is a shared understanding and knowledge of what is going on in our communities. That’s what the news is about. It’s not a propaganda machine. It’s not advocating the point of view of the President or the point of view of the Senator from Vermont. It is giving information,” said Senator Welch. “So, the question I have for us—in respect to the responsibility that you have, and I have, to the people we represent—is when we know that there are these extraordinary globalizing pressures…why would we compromise an institution that has served so many, so well, for so long? It weakens that sense of community. So why would we do that? There is not a good reason that we would do that.” 
    “We must not abandon the people we represent and the right they have to public broadcasting. And we cannot abandon the trust we must have in one another to keep our word. An agreement made must be an agreement kept.” 
    Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) led Senator Welch and seven Democratic colleagues in speaking from the Senate floor about the cuts to CPB and public media.  
    Watch Senator Welch’s speech below: 

    “These news deserts that are afflicting all of us…what has helped us so much is that many of these extraordinarily gifted reporters—who care about a sense of place, who have been on community newspapers—have now become the talent that has created this extraordinary institution of Vermont Public. Great reporting. So, in a democracy, we all know we need this. And it’s not because it’s going to be an agent for our point of view, but it’s going to be a cohesive force in the community to help people figure out the path forward.” 
    Senator Welch has been outspoken in his opposition to the Trump Administration’s unlawful efforts to dismantle and defund vital programs. In June, Senator Welch took to the Senate floor to slam the Trump Administration’s reckless rescissions request for Congressionally-appropriated funding. 
    Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Speaks Out Against President Trump’s Efforts to Cut Federal Funding for Public Broadcasting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    Welch Defends Corporation for Public Broadcasting, National Public Radio, Public Broadcasting Service 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, spoke out against President Trump’s request to cut $9.4 billion in federal funding—which was already appropriated by Congress—including $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. If Senate Republicans approve the President’s request, $700 million of federal funding for local public media would be rescinded, impacting more than 1,500 public radio and TV stations across the country. 
    “One of the things that allows us to be united, despite our differences, is a shared understanding and knowledge of what is going on in our communities. That’s what the news is about. It’s not a propaganda machine. It’s not advocating the point of view of the President or the point of view of the Senator from Vermont. It is giving information,” said Senator Welch. “So, the question I have for us—in respect to the responsibility that you have, and I have, to the people we represent—is when we know that there are these extraordinary globalizing pressures…why would we compromise an institution that has served so many, so well, for so long? It weakens that sense of community. So why would we do that? There is not a good reason that we would do that.” 
    “We must not abandon the people we represent and the right they have to public broadcasting. And we cannot abandon the trust we must have in one another to keep our word. An agreement made must be an agreement kept.” 
    Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) led Senator Welch and seven Democratic colleagues in speaking from the Senate floor about the cuts to CPB and public media.  
    Watch Senator Welch’s speech below: 
    “These news deserts that are afflicting all of us…what has helped us so much is that many of these extraordinarily gifted reporters—who care about a sense of place, who have been on community newspapers—have now become the talent that has created this extraordinary institution of Vermont Public. Great reporting. So, in a democracy, we all know we need this. And it’s not because it’s going to be an agent for our point of view, but it’s going to be a cohesive force in the community to help people figure out the path forward.” 
    Senator Welch has been outspoken in his opposition to the Trump Administration’s unlawful efforts to dismantle and defund vital programs. In June, Senator Welch took to the Senate floor to slam the Trump Administration’s reckless rescissions request for Congressionally-appropriated funding. 
    Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Speaks Out Against President Trump’s Efforts to Cut Federal Funding for Public Broadcasting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    Welch Defends Corporation for Public Broadcasting, National Public Radio, Public Broadcasting Service 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, spoke out against President Trump’s request to cut $9.4 billion in federal funding—which was already appropriated by Congress—including $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. If Senate Republicans approve the President’s request, $700 million of federal funding for local public media would be rescinded, impacting more than 1,500 public radio and TV stations across the country. 
    “One of the things that allows us to be united, despite our differences, is a shared understanding and knowledge of what is going on in our communities. That’s what the news is about. It’s not a propaganda machine. It’s not advocating the point of view of the President or the point of view of the Senator from Vermont. It is giving information,” said Senator Welch. “So, the question I have for us—in respect to the responsibility that you have, and I have, to the people we represent—is when we know that there are these extraordinary globalizing pressures…why would we compromise an institution that has served so many, so well, for so long? It weakens that sense of community. So why would we do that? There is not a good reason that we would do that.” 
    “We must not abandon the people we represent and the right they have to public broadcasting. And we cannot abandon the trust we must have in one another to keep our word. An agreement made must be an agreement kept.” 
    Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) led Senator Welch and seven Democratic colleagues in speaking from the Senate floor about the cuts to CPB and public media.  
    Watch Senator Welch’s speech below: 

    “These news deserts that are afflicting all of us…what has helped us so much is that many of these extraordinarily gifted reporters—who care about a sense of place, who have been on community newspapers—have now become the talent that has created this extraordinary institution of Vermont Public. Great reporting. So, in a democracy, we all know we need this. And it’s not because it’s going to be an agent for our point of view, but it’s going to be a cohesive force in the community to help people figure out the path forward.” 
    Senator Welch has been outspoken in his opposition to the Trump Administration’s unlawful efforts to dismantle and defund vital programs. In June, Senator Welch took to the Senate floor to slam the Trump Administration’s reckless rescissions request for Congressionally-appropriated funding. 
    Learn more about Senator Welch’s work by visiting his website or by following him on social media. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Senate Floor, Klobuchar Stands Up in Support of Public Broadcasting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar

    WATCH KLOBUCHAR’S FULL REMARKS HERE

    WASHINGTON — On the Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) spoke in opposition to the Administration’s attempt to clawback funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and foreign aid that Congress had already approved on a bipartisan basis. 

    “As the daughter of a newspaperman, I know how important public media and the free press are to our country. Public Broadcasting reaches nearly 99 percent of Americans. 99 percent with programming they don’t have to pay for delivering educational programming for our kids, coverage of local news stories and life saving emergency alerts …

    We have long agreed on a bipartisan basis to support the more than 1,500 local and regional public TV and radio stations throughout the country…I think we must continue this support.

    The Corporation for Public Broadcasting supports public TV stations in my state, in places like Duluth and Granite Falls and Austin, and supports 16 public radio stations across our state, like the ones in Grand Rapids, in Bemidji, and in Brainerd. We have a long history of producing public programming that is quite outstanding in our state… from Prairie Home Companion …to Marketplace. 

    Public Media in Minnesota has also created amazing original TV series like the ones to inspire more young people to enter STEM fields and spotlighting our artists and our local chefs…

    Twin Cities PBS launched the nation’s first 24/7 TV channel broadcasting real time emergency alerts. And recently, in the wake of the horrific shooting of the state lawmakers in the state, when portions of our state were in shelter in place, when a madman was out loose, Minnesota Public Radio kept people informed around the clock, about how to stay safe, about where the shelter in place areas were, and what was happening with the manhunt. It’s MPR that continues to report on State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who I got to talk with yesterday about their recovery, even when the national attention has moved on. That’s what local public TV and local radio do for us.”

    Download Klobuchar’s full floor speech here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Senate Floor, Klobuchar Stands Up in Support of Public Broadcasting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar

    WATCH KLOBUCHAR’S FULL REMARKS HERE

    WASHINGTON — On the Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) spoke in opposition to the Administration’s attempt to clawback funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and foreign aid that Congress had already approved on a bipartisan basis. 

    “As the daughter of a newspaperman, I know how important public media and the free press are to our country. Public Broadcasting reaches nearly 99 percent of Americans. 99 percent with programming they don’t have to pay for delivering educational programming for our kids, coverage of local news stories and life saving emergency alerts …

    We have long agreed on a bipartisan basis to support the more than 1,500 local and regional public TV and radio stations throughout the country…I think we must continue this support.

    The Corporation for Public Broadcasting supports public TV stations in my state, in places like Duluth and Granite Falls and Austin, and supports 16 public radio stations across our state, like the ones in Grand Rapids, in Bemidji, and in Brainerd. We have a long history of producing public programming that is quite outstanding in our state… from Prairie Home Companion …to Marketplace. 

    Public Media in Minnesota has also created amazing original TV series like the ones to inspire more young people to enter STEM fields and spotlighting our artists and our local chefs…

    Twin Cities PBS launched the nation’s first 24/7 TV channel broadcasting real time emergency alerts. And recently, in the wake of the horrific shooting of the state lawmakers in the state, when portions of our state were in shelter in place, when a madman was out loose, Minnesota Public Radio kept people informed around the clock, about how to stay safe, about where the shelter in place areas were, and what was happening with the manhunt. It’s MPR that continues to report on State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who I got to talk with yesterday about their recovery, even when the national attention has moved on. That’s what local public TV and local radio do for us.”

    Download Klobuchar’s full floor speech here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Senate Floor, Klobuchar Stands Up in Support of Public Broadcasting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar
    WATCH KLOBUCHAR’S FULL REMARKS HERE
    WASHINGTON — On the Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) spoke in opposition to the Administration’s attempt to clawback funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and foreign aid that Congress had already approved on a bipartisan basis. 
    “As the daughter of a newspaperman, I know how important public media and the free press are to our country. Public Broadcasting reaches nearly 99 percent of Americans. 99 percent with programming they don’t have to pay for delivering educational programming for our kids, coverage of local news stories and life saving emergency alerts …
    We have long agreed on a bipartisan basis to support the more than 1,500 local and regional public TV and radio stations throughout the country…I think we must continue this support.
    The Corporation for Public Broadcasting supports public TV stations in my state, in places like Duluth and Granite Falls and Austin, and supports 16 public radio stations across our state, like the ones in Grand Rapids, in Bemidji, and in Brainerd. We have a long history of producing public programming that is quite outstanding in our state… from Prairie Home Companion …to Marketplace. 
    Public Media in Minnesota has also created amazing original TV series like the ones to inspire more young people to enter STEM fields and spotlighting our artists and our local chefs…
    Twin Cities PBS launched the nation’s first 24/7 TV channel broadcasting real time emergency alerts. And recently, in the wake of the horrific shooting of the state lawmakers in the state, when portions of our state were in shelter in place, when a madman was out loose, Minnesota Public Radio kept people informed around the clock, about how to stay safe, about where the shelter in place areas were, and what was happening with the manhunt. It’s MPR that continues to report on State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who I got to talk with yesterday about their recovery, even when the national attention has moved on. That’s what local public TV and local radio do for us.”
    Download Klobuchar’s full floor speech here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: In the first half of this year, 1,830 China-Europe freight trains entered the country through the Erenhot checkpoint.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) — A total of 1,830 China-Europe freight trains entered China through the Ereenhot port in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on the border with Mongolia in the first half of this year, up 6.1 percent year on year, data released by the local commerce bureau showed.

    According to the city administration press service, during the period from January to June of this year, cargo turnover through the checkpoint increased by 9.5 percent year-on-year to 2.35 million tons.

    Ereenhot is the largest land border crossing between China and Mongolia. Currently, regular rail service through it connects more than 60 Chinese cities with 70 cities and stations in more than 10 countries around the world, including Germany, Poland and Russia.

    China supplies automobiles, auto parts, equipment, electronics, textiles, and consumer goods to the international market through Ereenhot. -0-

    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 Russia: The first freight train to travel along the trans-Caspian route departs from Shanxi Province

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    TAIYUAN, July 10 (Xinhua) — A train loaded with 50 standard containers of photovoltaic panels weighing 1,159 tonnes departed Jinzhong City in north China’s Shanxi Province for Azerbaijan’s capital Baku on Wednesday morning, marking the province’s launch of China-Europe rail service along the trans-Caspian route.

    According to the press service of the local transport company Huayuan International Land Port, the train departed from the Zhongding logistics center. On the way, it will pass through the territory of Kazakhstan and arrive at the port of Aktau, from where the cargo will be delivered to Azerbaijan by ferry.

    Compared to the traditional method, trans-Caspian transportation allows to significantly reduce transportation time, the company recalled. In the future, locally produced photovoltaic modules will be more convenient to deliver to the Transcaucasus, Turkey and Eastern European countries, the company recalled.

    Currently, Huayuan International Land Port operates regular rail services on 23 China-Europe and China-Central Asia routes, linking Shanxi Province with 48 cities in 16 countries. -0-

    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 Russia: Representatives of Chinese and Russian universities discussed new opportunities for cooperation between universities in Sichuan Province and Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) — A forum on cooperation between universities in Sichuan Province and the Volga Region of Russia was recently held at Sichuan University. Representatives of Chinese and Russian universities held an in-depth exchange of views on academic exchanges, development of specialties and joint educational programs.

    Scientific cooperation was the main topic of discussion. Rector of the Kozma Minin Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University /NSPU/ Viktor Sdobnyakov noted China’s impressive achievements in physical chemistry, mechanical engineering, electronics and artificial intelligence, emphasizing the value of the Chinese model of integrating education, science and production. He expressed interest in joint scientific and technical projects with universities and enterprises in Sichuan Province.

    Vice-president of Southwest Petroleum University Pei Xiangjun proposed expanding scientific cooperation in the field of carbon neutrality, artificial intelligence and alternative energy through joint research, the establishment of international laboratories and the commercialization of technologies to promote the socio-economic development of the two countries.

    There is a positive trend in humanitarian exchanges between universities in Sichuan Province and Russia: 37 Russian students were enrolled in the summer school of the Southwest University of Finance and Economics, over 2,000 Chinese students are studying at Kazan Federal University, and the Mordovian State University named after N.P. Ogarev created the Center for Chinese Language and Culture.

    To deepen ties, forum participants proposed creating cultural and educational platforms and building effective mechanisms for cooperation.

    Zhang Haidong, deputy secretary of the Sichuan Normal University Party Committee, recommended using “Internet plus education” technologies to exchange educational resources and jointly train specialists. -0-

    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 Asia-Pac: BSMI Launches Local Inspection, Certification, and Calibration Services to Boost Machine Tool Industry’s Global Competitiveness

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    To help Taiwan’s machine tool industry proactively respond to evolving international regulations, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) officially launched the Local Inspection, Certification, and Calibration Service Platform for Machine Tools on July 1. By integrating the resources of public research institutions, the platform serves as a centralized hub that offers up-to-date information on safety and performance testing requirements, as well as relevant technical standards, for key export products in major global markets. This initiative aims to help businesses stay informed of regulatory changes in real time.

    In addition to the online portal, BSMI has conducted a comprehensive assessment of domestic calibration and certification capacities. The platform provides consultation services and facilitates demand matching between enterprises and service providers, enabling local testing and certification. These efforts help reduce certification timelines and lower testing costs, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of Taiwan’s machine tool sector.

    BSMI further explained that, in light of India’s recent regulatory changes for mechanical products, they invited the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in April to brief local machine tool manufacturers on new compliance requirements and application procedures. The seminar focuses on key updates to the European Union’s new Machinery Regulation (EU 2023/1230).

    A senior expert from TUV SUD Taiwan, a subsidiary of the renowned German certification body, has been invited to elaborate on the regulation’s major changes. These include strengthened risk assessment requirements, expanded oversight of AI and automated equipment, and clearer responsibilities for manufacturers. The objective is to equip domestic manufacturers with a deeper understanding of the new framework and support early compliance preparation.

    With the EU set to fully implement the new Machinery Regulation by 2027, BSMI will continue to organize technical regulatory briefings targeting major export markets. In addition, BSMI also plans to further integrate testing and certification resources, offer consultation and matchmaking services, and promote international cooperation to strengthen Taiwan’s local testing capabilities and export competitiveness.

    For more information on machine tool Inspecting, certification, and calibration services, please visit the Local Inspection, Certification, and Calibration Service Platform for Machine Tools at: http://taiwaninspect.pmc.org.tw

    Responsible Division: Metrology Administration Division
    Contact Person: Chang, Chao-Ching, Deputy Director
    Tel. (O):+886-2396-7149
    Email:hush.chang@bsmi.gov.tw

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Cyber crime and real-world crime are converging in a dangerous new way – here’s how to stay safe

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jongkil Jay Jeong, Senior Fellow, School of Computing and Information System, The University of Melbourne

    It starts with a call from someone claiming to be your bank. They know your name. They know your bank. They even know your credit card number. There’s been “unusual activity” on your account, they say – and they just sent you a one-time passcode to verify your identity so they can assist.

    You read out the code and feel reassured. Moments later, your funds are gone and the bank refuses reimbursement, citing a breach of terms because you voluntarily shared your passcode.

    This is not a niche or isolated scam. It’s part of a growing pattern we’re seeing across Australia and beyond: cyber criminals are merging digital and real-world tactics in ways that make these frauds more convincing, harder to stop, and far more damaging.

    It starts with stolen data

    These scams don’t begin with a phishing email or fake app. They begin with data – your data – stolen in one of countless breaches, such as the latest Qantas incident that exposed the details of up to 5.7 million customers.

    Sometimes the personal data has been sold through third-party data brokers. Names, phone numbers, emails, even card details are routinely leaked and traded online.

    Once they have this information, scammers get to work. The phone call mimics a real interaction with a bank, perhaps with a spoofed caller ID. Victims are pressured in urgent language to “verify” their identity, often by reading out a one-time passcode that, unbeknownst to them, is authorising a transaction using their own card details.

    We refer to this as a “convergence scam” – where online data leaks, psychological manipulation and weak enforcement come together. It’s a sophisticated hybrid of digital theft and physical-world exploitation, and it’s on the rise.

    Devastating and personal

    These scams are deeply personal and can be financially devastating. But what makes them even more alarming is the system-wide failure surrounding them.

    For starters, many credit card fraud insurance policies contain clauses that exclude coverage when the customer “voluntarily” provides account credentials – including one-time passcodes – even if they did so under duress or deception.

    One victim we spoke to lost nearly A$6,000 after a scammer posing as their bank prompted them to read out a passcode over the phone. The transaction was verified using that code, and the bank later refused to reimburse the loss.

    In a formal response, the bank stated that by voluntarily sharing the one-time passcode, the customer had breached the epayments code, even though they were manipulated into doing so. As a result, the customer was held liable and ineligible for a chargeback.

    Law enforcement may not help

    Even when the criminals leave a physical trail, follow-up is rare. Law enforcement rarely investigates. In the cases we’ve seen, reports are acknowledged but not pursued. Officers don’t explicitly say the case is too small or not worth the effort, but their inaction suggests it, especially given how resource-intensive most cyber-crime investigations tend to be.

    In many instances, particularly when the total loss isn’t deemed significant, victims are simply told to follow up with their bank, based on the assumption they’ll be reimbursed.

    In one case we reviewed, stolen card details were used in-store at major Australian retailers such as Woolworths and Coles – indicating that a cloned card had been physically used. These purchases could, in theory, be tracked back to in-store CCTV footage. But no investigation was launched.

    This reluctance to act, even when the evidence is tangible, sends a dangerous message: that scammers can operate with near-impunity.

    Meanwhile, banks and regulators are slow to update verification systems. One-time passcodes are still widely used, even though scammers now exploit them routinely. There’s little recourse for victims, and minimal accountability for data brokers whose records fuel these scams.

    What can we do to protect ourselves?

    For individuals, the first line of defence is simple but vital:

    • never share a one-time passcode or security code over the phone, even if the caller seems legitimate
    • if in doubt, hang up and call the bank directly using the number on your card
    • be cautious about where and how you share your personal information, especially online through websites or social media. Only disclose what personally identifiable information you have to.

    The true answer is systemic change

    Banks and other institutions need to put into place stronger identity verification systems that don’t rely solely on SMS codes. We need greater transparency and regulation of data brokers.



    Read more:
    70% of Australians don’t feel in control of their data as companies hide behind meaningless privacy terms

    Crucially, we also need active enforcement of cyber-enabled fraud, especially when there’s physical evidence, such as in-store purchases and CCTV footage.

    Banks should also reassess their policies and procedures on how they communicate with customers. If scam calls closely mimic real ones, it’s time to change the script. More proactive education, clearer warnings, and redesigned verification processes can all help prevent harm.

    The real danger of these convergence scams isn’t just financial loss. It’s the erosion of trust: in our banks, in our security systems, and in the institutions meant to protect us.

    Once that trust is gone, it’s not easily recovered.

    Jongkil Jay Jeong has received prior research funding from the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DSRI) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

    Ashish Nanda has received funding from the Australian Government through various research grants, including the Cyber Security CRC and Australia’s Economic Accelerator.

    Peter Thomas 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. Cyber crime and real-world crime are converging in a dangerous new way – here’s how to stay safe – https://theconversation.com/cyber-crime-and-real-world-crime-are-converging-in-a-dangerous-new-way-heres-how-to-stay-safe-260426

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy on rescissions: “It’s gut-check time. We need to pass this bill.”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    Watch Kennedy’s comments here. 

    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today delivered the following remarks on the U.S. Senate floor:

    “We’ve got a $7 trillion budget. I don’t know how much of that $7 trillion is waste, but every fair-minded person would have to agree that there’s some money being spent in that $7 trillion that shouldn’t be spent. It just shouldn’t. It’s wasted money.

    “So, President Trump and this Congress made one of its objectives trying to reduce spending. Not spending that we need but spending that needs to be reduced. I call it spending porn. 

    “The president has sent us a bill. He’s saying to Congress, I want you to reduce spending in the current budget by [$9.4 billion]. Let me tell you what constitutes the spending I want to reduce. 

    “First, [$9.4 billion] out of a $7 trillion budget, we’re not talking about a lot of money here. We’re talking about one-tenth of 1%. That’s all. That’s point one. 

    “Point two: You need to look at what the president is asking us to cut out. I’ll just give you a couple of examples. I didn’t make this up.

    “The president is saying we’re giving $3 million to Iraq to produce ‘Sesame Street.’ Maybe we could use that money for something else. 

    “The president is saying we’re giving $3 million to Zambia for circumcisions and vasectomies. The president is saying we don’t need to do that. We’ve got other priorities.

    “We’re giving $500,000 to Rwanda to buy electric buses. The president is saying to us, Congress we don’t need to be spending money on that. There are more important things.

    “We’re spending $67,000 to give insect powder to kids in Madagascar. I don’t even know what insect powder is, but the president is asking us to cut it out. 

    “We’re giving $3,600,000 to Haiti for pastry cooking classes, for cyber cafes, for dance focus groups for male prostitutes. The president is saying I don’t think so. I don’t think the American people support giving their hard-earned money to male prostitutes in Haiti. So, he’s asking us to cut it out.

    “He’s asking us to reduce the budget by $833,000 because some of President Biden’s bureaucrats gave a contract to [assist] transgender people, sex workers, and their clients in Nepal. The president is saying I don’t want to do that and he’s right. You get the idea.

    “That’s what I call spending porn. It triggers our gag reflex. You look at this stuff and you go, ‘What in God’s name? Who decided to do this?’ Well, Congress didn’t. The bureaucrats did. It’s money we appropriated, but we didn’t tell them to go spend money, $833,000, and give to sex workers in Nepal. They just took the money we appropriated and used it for that. So, the president is asking us to do what’s called a rescission and cancel the spending.

    “Now, I’ve been here eight years, Mr. President, and I’ve listened to a whole bunch of people talk about the need to reduce spending. But you’ve got to watch what people do, not what they say because talk is cheap.

    “And around here, I’ve learned pretty quickly that reducing spending, it’s like going to heaven. I want to go to heaven. I bet you want to go to heaven, Mr. President. I bet our guests in the gallery want to go to heaven, but everybody wants to heaven. Raise your hand if you’re ready to take the trip today. Most people—you are, sir, and I admire that—but most people want to live a little longer, and that’s the way we are with reducing spending around here.

    “‘I want to reduce spending. I support it but not just yet because I’ve got this project.’ And I’ve listened to that, and I especially listened to it for the past hundred days. ‘Go get them, President Trump. Reduce that spending. We’re behind you a thousand percent.’

    “Well, he has. One-tenth of 1% he’s asking us to reduce. And I’m not saying senators shouldn’t ask questions and make some changes if they need to be made, but here’s the bottom line: It is gut-check time. You either believe in reducing spending or you don’t. And if you talk the game and say, ‘Let’s reduce spending,’ and you vote against this bill, in my opinion, you ought to hide your head in a bag because you will be able to cut the hypocrisy with a knife.

    “It’s real, real hard, Mr. President, to preach temperance from a barstool. It’s gut-check time. We need to pass this bill.”

    Watch Kennedy’s speech here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Melting ice will strengthen the monsoon in northern Australia – but cause drier conditions north of the Equator

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Node Leader in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures, Flinders University

    Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images

    Almost two-thirds of the world’s population is affected by the monsoon – the annual arrival of intense rains in areas north and south of the Equator. These drenching rains tend to arrive during each hemisphere’s summer.

    The East Asian monsoon north of the equator is the best known and best studied, because it affects the largest land area and the most people. But the southern Indo-Australian monsoon is vitally important to northern Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. To date, it has been studied much less.

    To help fill this gap in knowledge, we analysed deep sediment from an unusual lagoon near Darwin in northern Australia. We looked at ancient pollen and chemical isotopes (different versions of the same chemical element) to look about 150,000 years back in time and glimpse changes to the monsoon. When types of pollen change, it tells us the monsoon has changed. Drier conditions favour the emergence of grasslands, while wetter climates favour forests.

    Our new research suggests as the world gets hotter, the Indo-Australian monsoon will intensify and northern Australia will get wetter. This finding is consistent with research suggesting the East Asian monsoon could weaken, threatening agriculture and nature in heavily populated countries.

    Location of Girraween Lagoon in monsoonal north Australia. Insert shows approximate dominant flows of the East Asian and Indo-Australian summer monsoons.
    Corey Bradshaw/Flinders University, CC BY-NC

    The past held in a single lagoon

    To examine how monsoons change over time, researchers drill sediment cores to track changes in pollen and chemical isotopes. For example, changes in hydrogen isotopes indicate changes in the intensity of the monsoon rain.

    The problem is, these cores have to come from long-undisturbed lake sediments, because such places provide a continuous record of change.

    To reconstruct past changes in monsoon patterns, undisturbed sediments have to be sampled carefully by extracting a thin “core” from the bottom sediments. Once researchers have this precious core, they can examine the changing proportions of pollen, chemical isotopes and other properties. The deeper you drill the core, the farther back in time you can look.

    These exacting requirements are one reason the Indo-Australian monsoon is not as well understood as its northern cousin.

    Fortunately, we have found one place which has kept a detailed environmental record over a long period: Girraween Lagoon on the outskirts of Darwin in the Northern Territory.

    This lagoon was created after a sinkhole formed more than 200,000 years ago. It has contained permanent water ever since, and is slowly filling with sediment and pollen blown in from the surrounding landscape.

    The 18-metre core from Girraween’s sediments gave us a 150,000-year record of environmental change in Australia’s northern savannahs.

    It took hard work to extract the core from Girraween Lagoon.

    Dipping into the past

    If you walk around Girraween Lagoon today, you’ll see a tall and dense tree canopy with a thick grass understory in the wet season. But it hasn’t always been that way.

    During the last ice age 20,000–30,000 years ago, the sea level was much lower and the polar ice caps much larger. As a result, the lagoon was more than 300 kilometres from the coast. At that time, the lagoon was surrounded by an open, grassy savannah with fewer, shorter trees.

    A schematic showing the depth of the Girraween core and the associated time periods.
    Emma Rehn/Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, CC BY-NC

    About 115,000 years ago (and again 90,000 years ago), Australia was dotted with gigantic inland “megalakes”. At those times, the lagoon expanded into a large, shallow lake surrounded by lush monsoon forest, with almost no grass.

    At times, tree cover changed radically. In fact, over one 3,000-year period, the percentage of tree pollen soared from 15% to 95%. That suggests a sweeping change from grassland to dense forest – meaning a switch from drier to wetter climate at a rate too fast to be explained by changes in Earth’s orbit.

    Some of these changes are linked to the shifting distance between coastline and lagoon as well as predictable variation in how much solar energy reaches Earth.

    A connection to the North Atlantic

    Huge ice sheets covered large areas of the Northern Hemisphere during previous ice ages.

    Remarkably, the evidence of their melting at the end of previous ice age was there in the sediment core from Girraween Lagoon.

    When glacial ice melts rapidly, huge volumes of fresh water flood into the North Atlantic. These rapid pulses are known as Heinrich events. These pulses can shut down the warm Gulf Stream current up the east coast of North America. As a result, the Northern Hemisphere cools and the Southern Hemisphere warms.

    Over the last 150,000 years, there have been 14 of these events. We could see evidence of them in the sediment cores. Every gush of fresh water in the Atlantic triggered higher rainfall over northern Australia because of the buildup of heat in the Southern Hemisphere as the Gulf Stream slowed.

    What does this mean for the monsoon?

    All this suggests the Indo-Australian monsoon will get more intense as the world gets hotter and more ice melts.

    That would mean a wetter northern Australia. It could also bring more rainfall to other Australian regions, and neighbouring countries. At this stage, it’s too uncertain to predict what an intensifying monsoon would do to the southern parts of Australia.

    We might already be seeing this shift. Weather records since the 1960s show northern Australia getting steadily wetter, and less rain in Australia’s southeast and southwest.

    Trends in total annual rainfall in Australia from 1960 to 2020.
    Commonwealth of Australia Bureau of Meteorology, CC BY

    What would this mean for people? Australia’s tropical north is not densely populated, which would reduce the human impact of an intensifying monsoon.

    But while our research suggests the Indo-Australian monsoon strengthens during Heinrich events, earlier research has shown the East Asian and other Northern Hemisphere monsoons will weaken. Without reliable monsoonal rains, food and water supplies for billions of people could be at risk.

    Corey J. A. Bradshaw receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Cassandra Rowe receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Michael Bird receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Melting ice will strengthen the monsoon in northern Australia – but cause drier conditions north of the Equator – https://theconversation.com/melting-ice-will-strengthen-the-monsoon-in-northern-australia-but-cause-drier-conditions-north-of-the-equator-259992

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Melting ice will strengthen the monsoon in northern Australia – but cause drier conditions north of the Equator

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Node Leader in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures, Flinders University

    Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images

    Almost two-thirds of the world’s population is affected by the monsoon – the annual arrival of intense rains in areas north and south of the Equator. These drenching rains tend to arrive during each hemisphere’s summer.

    The East Asian monsoon north of the equator is the best known and best studied, because it affects the largest land area and the most people. But the southern Indo-Australian monsoon is vitally important to northern Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. To date, it has been studied much less.

    To help fill this gap in knowledge, we analysed deep sediment from an unusual lagoon near Darwin in northern Australia. We looked at ancient pollen and chemical isotopes (different versions of the same chemical element) to look about 150,000 years back in time and glimpse changes to the monsoon. When types of pollen change, it tells us the monsoon has changed. Drier conditions favour the emergence of grasslands, while wetter climates favour forests.

    Our new research suggests as the world gets hotter, the Indo-Australian monsoon will intensify and northern Australia will get wetter. This finding is consistent with research suggesting the East Asian monsoon could weaken, threatening agriculture and nature in heavily populated countries.

    Location of Girraween Lagoon in monsoonal north Australia. Insert shows approximate dominant flows of the East Asian and Indo-Australian summer monsoons.
    Corey Bradshaw/Flinders University, CC BY-NC

    The past held in a single lagoon

    To examine how monsoons change over time, researchers drill sediment cores to track changes in pollen and chemical isotopes. For example, changes in hydrogen isotopes indicate changes in the intensity of the monsoon rain.

    The problem is, these cores have to come from long-undisturbed lake sediments, because such places provide a continuous record of change.

    To reconstruct past changes in monsoon patterns, undisturbed sediments have to be sampled carefully by extracting a thin “core” from the bottom sediments. Once researchers have this precious core, they can examine the changing proportions of pollen, chemical isotopes and other properties. The deeper you drill the core, the farther back in time you can look.

    These exacting requirements are one reason the Indo-Australian monsoon is not as well understood as its northern cousin.

    Fortunately, we have found one place which has kept a detailed environmental record over a long period: Girraween Lagoon on the outskirts of Darwin in the Northern Territory.

    This lagoon was created after a sinkhole formed more than 200,000 years ago. It has contained permanent water ever since, and is slowly filling with sediment and pollen blown in from the surrounding landscape.

    The 18-metre core from Girraween’s sediments gave us a 150,000-year record of environmental change in Australia’s northern savannahs.

    It took hard work to extract the core from Girraween Lagoon.

    Dipping into the past

    If you walk around Girraween Lagoon today, you’ll see a tall and dense tree canopy with a thick grass understory in the wet season. But it hasn’t always been that way.

    During the last ice age 20,000–30,000 years ago, the sea level was much lower and the polar ice caps much larger. As a result, the lagoon was more than 300 kilometres from the coast. At that time, the lagoon was surrounded by an open, grassy savannah with fewer, shorter trees.

    A schematic showing the depth of the Girraween core and the associated time periods.
    Emma Rehn/Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, CC BY-NC

    About 115,000 years ago (and again 90,000 years ago), Australia was dotted with gigantic inland “megalakes”. At those times, the lagoon expanded into a large, shallow lake surrounded by lush monsoon forest, with almost no grass.

    At times, tree cover changed radically. In fact, over one 3,000-year period, the percentage of tree pollen soared from 15% to 95%. That suggests a sweeping change from grassland to dense forest – meaning a switch from drier to wetter climate at a rate too fast to be explained by changes in Earth’s orbit.

    Some of these changes are linked to the shifting distance between coastline and lagoon as well as predictable variation in how much solar energy reaches Earth.

    A connection to the North Atlantic

    Huge ice sheets covered large areas of the Northern Hemisphere during previous ice ages.

    Remarkably, the evidence of their melting at the end of previous ice age was there in the sediment core from Girraween Lagoon.

    When glacial ice melts rapidly, huge volumes of fresh water flood into the North Atlantic. These rapid pulses are known as Heinrich events. These pulses can shut down the warm Gulf Stream current up the east coast of North America. As a result, the Northern Hemisphere cools and the Southern Hemisphere warms.

    Over the last 150,000 years, there have been 14 of these events. We could see evidence of them in the sediment cores. Every gush of fresh water in the Atlantic triggered higher rainfall over northern Australia because of the buildup of heat in the Southern Hemisphere as the Gulf Stream slowed.

    What does this mean for the monsoon?

    All this suggests the Indo-Australian monsoon will get more intense as the world gets hotter and more ice melts.

    That would mean a wetter northern Australia. It could also bring more rainfall to other Australian regions, and neighbouring countries. At this stage, it’s too uncertain to predict what an intensifying monsoon would do to the southern parts of Australia.

    We might already be seeing this shift. Weather records since the 1960s show northern Australia getting steadily wetter, and less rain in Australia’s southeast and southwest.

    Trends in total annual rainfall in Australia from 1960 to 2020.
    Commonwealth of Australia Bureau of Meteorology, CC BY

    What would this mean for people? Australia’s tropical north is not densely populated, which would reduce the human impact of an intensifying monsoon.

    But while our research suggests the Indo-Australian monsoon strengthens during Heinrich events, earlier research has shown the East Asian and other Northern Hemisphere monsoons will weaken. Without reliable monsoonal rains, food and water supplies for billions of people could be at risk.

    Corey J. A. Bradshaw receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Cassandra Rowe receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Michael Bird receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Melting ice will strengthen the monsoon in northern Australia – but cause drier conditions north of the Equator – https://theconversation.com/melting-ice-will-strengthen-the-monsoon-in-northern-australia-but-cause-drier-conditions-north-of-the-equator-259992

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Planning a ‘Euro summer’ or cruise? Why another flu shot might save your holiday

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack Janetzki, Lecturer in Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of South Australia

    DavideAngelini/Shutterstock

    Are you escaping a southern hemisphere winter by heading off for a “Euro summer”? Maybe you’re planning a cruise through the Mediterranean. Or you’re dreaming of a white Christmas overseas later in the year.

    Maybe you’ve already booked your flights and accommodation, locked in your itinerary, and started planning what to pack.

    But there may be one more thing to add to your pre-travel checklist – a flu shot.

    For some travellers, this may mean a second flu shot this year – one for Australia’s flu season and another to protect them in the northern hemisphere.

    Why do I need another flu shot?

    Protection from a flu shot doesn’t last all year; it decreases after three to four months.

    So if you had your flu shot in April or May, it may no longer offer enough protection by the time you travel in July or later.

    Getting a second shot will provide you with optimal protection against the flu while travelling to the northern hemisphere.

    That’s why it is now recommended Australians travelling to the northern hemisphere between October and May consider a second flu shot if they’ve already had one earlier this year.

    If it’s been three to four months since your first shot, you can consider a second shot.

    A second shot should be at least four weeks after the first shot. Ideally, get your second shot at least two weeks before your departure, so your body has time to build up protection.

    If you haven’t had a flu shot at all this year, now’s the time. In the year to July 7, there have been more than 167,000 confirmed cases of the flu in Australia.

    Who should consider a second flu shot?

    Here are some examples where a second flu shot is worth discussing with your doctor or pharmacist.

    Cruises are a prime setting for flu outbreaks. There are hundreds or thousands of people sharing confined spaces, such as restaurants and entertainment facilities, for days or weeks at a time. This creates the perfect environment for the flu virus to spread.

    Group tours and large events are also high risk. Bus tours, music festivals and cultural events bring together large crowds, often in indoor spaces or via shared transport. This increases your chance of exposure and catching the virus.

    Pilgrimages and religious gatherings such as Hajj, Lunar New Year or Ramadan are also high risk, especially for older travellers or those with health conditions. These events can attract millions of international visitors, often in crowded, shared accommodation, where flu and other respiratory viruses can spread rapidly.

    People who are over 65 years of age, have medical conditions, such as severe asthma or diabetes, or are on medications that decrease their immune function, are more likely to become severely ill if they catch the flu. So, if you’re travelling during the northern hemisphere’s flu season, a second shot should be strongly considered.

    Which flu shot should I get?

    Each year, health authorities around the world develop two different flu shots, one for each hemisphere’s flu season. The flu shots can differ, as flu strains change rapidly and different strains may circulate in different regions.

    Australians receive the southern hemisphere version around March to May. And
    while it’s ideal to have the northern hemisphere flu shot before heading overseas, it’s not available in Australia.

    Instead, you can have two shots of the southern hemisphere flu shot – one earlier in the year and a second shot before your trip.

    You could wait until you are overseas to get your second shot. But you wouldn’t be protected for two weeks afterwards, and you’d need to navigate an overseas health system while on holiday.

    Where can I get a flu shot? How much does it cost?

    You can get a flu shot at your local pharmacy, GP clinic, or sometimes via your workplace. Many pharmacies offer walk-in appointments, and the flu shot usually costs around A$25 (including the price of the vaccine and administering it).

    If your GP doesn’t bulk bill, you will be charged an out-of-pocket cost for the consultation, and may need to pay the cost of the shot if you don’t qualify for a free one.

    The (first) flu shot is free for people who meet certain criteria, such as being 65 and over, pregnant, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those with certain medical conditions. But you would have to pay for a second shot if you’re travelling.

    Specific flu shots are recommended for each person. So speak to your pharmacist or GP to discuss the best option for you.

    Your GP or pharmacist will also discuss what to expect after your flu shot. This may include tiredness, fever, muscle aches, and redness or swelling at the injection site. These usually go away within two days. For most people, these symptoms are mild and well-tolerated.

    Why bother?

    The flu is more than just a sniffle. It can lead to serious illness, cancelled plans and perhaps a hospital stay in a foreign country. Even if you don’t get sick, you could pass the virus to others more vulnerable than yourself.

    So before you finish your pre-travel checklist, make sure your flu shots are up to date.

    Not getting the shot could be the difference between sipping Aperol spritz on the Amalfi Coast or spending your trip in bed with a fever.

    Jack Janetzki works for the University of South Australia, Pharmaceutical Defence Limited and The Barossa Pharmacist in the Mall (Nuriootpa, South Australia). He is a member of Pharmaceutical Defence Limited, the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the South Australian Immunisation Program Advisory Group, the Observational Health Data Science Informatics network and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Insight Board for pharmacist-led vaccination services.

    Wern Chai is employed as a lecturer at the University of South Australia. He is an SME for the Australian Pharmacy Council, a board examiner for the Pharmacy Board of Australia, the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the South Australian Immunisation Program Advisory Group and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Insight Board for pharmacist-led vaccination services.

    – ref. Planning a ‘Euro summer’ or cruise? Why another flu shot might save your holiday – https://theconversation.com/planning-a-euro-summer-or-cruise-why-another-flu-shot-might-save-your-holiday-259888

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Cannabinoid products may reduce total sleep time in adults with insomnia: new study

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Camilla Hoyos, Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology, Macquarie University

    Lysenko Andrii/Shutterstock

    You might have heard cannabis and cannabinoid products can help people sleep. Data shows one of the top reasons people use cannabis is to help them sleep.

    But there’s a dearth of high-quality research on how medicinal cannabis products actually affect sleep.

    To find out more, our research team conducted a small pilot study involving 20 people. We wanted to compare how they slept after using a medicinal cannabis product, compared to a placebo.

    The results of the study, published today in the Journal of Sleep Research, surprised us.

    We found a single oral dose of a cannabinoid product decreased total sleep time and the time spent in REM sleep (rapid eye movement, which is when we tend to dream). We didn’t observe any change in objective alertness the day after the treatment.

    Our study is small and only measured the effect of a single dose, so more research is clearly needed.

    But overall, our findings suggest cannabinoids may acutely influence sleep, primarily by suppressing REM sleep, without noticeable next-day impairment.

    What we did

    All 20 people (16 of whom were female) involved in our study had a clinical diagnosis of insomnia disorder.

    This means they reported having challenges falling asleep and/or maintaining sleep and that these disturbances impact day-to-day functioning socially, at work, or in other important areas of life.

    The average age of our study participants was about 46 years.

    At our lab, the study participants were interviewed by a doctor and had their medical history taken. All participants also underwent an overnight diagnostic sleep study. This was done to confirm their sleeplessness was truly insomnia and not other conditions such as sleep apnoea.

    Once the participant was able to start the study, they were asked to sleep for two nights at our lab, with at least one week between those two visits.

    On one of their visits, they were given a placebo.

    On the other, they were given a single oral dose of a medical-grade cannabis oil containing 10 mg THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis) and 200 mg CBD (cannabidiol, which does not produce a “high”).

    Using a product with a precise, known dose ensures the results are relevant to what doctors in Australia are already prescribing.

    The order in which participants received either the treatment or the placebo was randomised, so they didn’t know which one they were taking.

    After taking either the treatment or the placebo, they slept at our lab while wearing a special cap with 256 monitors on it. This high-density electroencephalogram or EEG allowed us to record the electrical activity of the brain while the person slept.

    The next morning, after they either woke or were woken, they performed a driving simulation test around the time of their normal morning commute.

    They also underwent a test that assessed their ability to stay awake in a quiet, dimly lit environment. To track their alertness throughout the day, they repeated this test four times while wearing the high-density EEG cap. This was so we could test their alertness the day after either the treatment or the placebo.

    What we found

    Our results were not what we expected.

    We found the THC/CBD treatment decreased total sleep time by an average of 24.5 minutes. This was largely driven by a significant impact on REM sleep (the phase associated with dreaming), which not only decreased by an average of 33.9 minutes but also took significantly longer for participants to enter. The treatment also offered no benefit in helping participants stay asleep throughout the night.

    Perhaps most intriguingly, this objective worsening of sleep wasn’t reflected in the participants’ own perceptions; they reported no change in their subjective sleep quality. This disconnect continued into the next day.

    While participants noted feeling slightly more sleepy after the treatment, their objective alertness – measured by their ability to stay awake in a quiet, dimly lit room – was reassuringly unchanged, as was their cognitive and simulated driving performance.

    This leads to a crucial question: if a single dose produces these changes, what are the cumulative effects on a person’s sleep after weeks, months, or years of nightly use?

    We simply don’t have the answers yet, especially with a medical-grade cannabis product.

    A growing body of research

    Our findings underscore a significant gap between the widespread public perception of cannabis for sleep and the complex scientific reality. As highlighted by a review we published in the journal Current Psychiatry Reports, the evidence base remains thin.

    We reviewed 21 recent studies (published between 2021 and 2024) of cannabinoids being used for insomnia, subjective sleep impairment, obstructive sleep apnoea, rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder, and restless legs syndrome.

    We found that, despite its widespread use, there’s not enough research yet to support the use of medical cannabis to treat sleep disorders.

    This is why this kind of research is so vital. It provides the first pieces of a much larger puzzle.

    To give doctors and patients the clear guidance they need, there is an urgent need for adequately funded, well-designed clinical trials with larger sample sizes and longer treatment durations to truly understand the long-term impacts of medicinal cannabis on sleep and daytime functioning.

    Camilla Hoyos is a Research Leader within the Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. The Woolcock sleep group received funding from Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Therapeutics (a philanthropic centre based at The University of Sydney) for this study and for another unpublished trial in the same space. Woolcock sleep group also received funding to be a site on an industry-sponsored clinical trial on a cannabinoids medicine in insomnia. Camilla Hoyos is also a board member of the Australasian Sleep Association. This study described in this article was a collaboration between the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Research.

    Anastasia has previously received funding from the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, a philanthropically funded research initiative at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney. She has received consulting fees from the Medicinal Cannabis Industry Australia for a commissioned review article and Haleon (a consumer health-care subsidiary of GSK) for non-cannabinoid related work. She is a committee member for the Sleep Health Week Working Party and an expert speaker for the Sleep Health Foundation.

    – ref. Cannabinoid products may reduce total sleep time in adults with insomnia: new study – https://theconversation.com/cannabinoid-products-may-reduce-total-sleep-time-in-adults-with-insomnia-new-study-256467

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Cannabinoid products may reduce total sleep time in adults with insomnia: new study

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Camilla Hoyos, Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology, Macquarie University

    Lysenko Andrii/Shutterstock

    You might have heard cannabis and cannabinoid products can help people sleep. Data shows one of the top reasons people use cannabis is to help them sleep.

    But there’s a dearth of high-quality research on how medicinal cannabis products actually affect sleep.

    To find out more, our research team conducted a small pilot study involving 20 people. We wanted to compare how they slept after using a medicinal cannabis product, compared to a placebo.

    The results of the study, published today in the Journal of Sleep Research, surprised us.

    We found a single oral dose of a cannabinoid product decreased total sleep time and the time spent in REM sleep (rapid eye movement, which is when we tend to dream). We didn’t observe any change in objective alertness the day after the treatment.

    Our study is small and only measured the effect of a single dose, so more research is clearly needed.

    But overall, our findings suggest cannabinoids may acutely influence sleep, primarily by suppressing REM sleep, without noticeable next-day impairment.

    What we did

    All 20 people (16 of whom were female) involved in our study had a clinical diagnosis of insomnia disorder.

    This means they reported having challenges falling asleep and/or maintaining sleep and that these disturbances impact day-to-day functioning socially, at work, or in other important areas of life.

    The average age of our study participants was about 46 years.

    At our lab, the study participants were interviewed by a doctor and had their medical history taken. All participants also underwent an overnight diagnostic sleep study. This was done to confirm their sleeplessness was truly insomnia and not other conditions such as sleep apnoea.

    Once the participant was able to start the study, they were asked to sleep for two nights at our lab, with at least one week between those two visits.

    On one of their visits, they were given a placebo.

    On the other, they were given a single oral dose of a medical-grade cannabis oil containing 10 mg THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis) and 200 mg CBD (cannabidiol, which does not produce a “high”).

    Using a product with a precise, known dose ensures the results are relevant to what doctors in Australia are already prescribing.

    The order in which participants received either the treatment or the placebo was randomised, so they didn’t know which one they were taking.

    After taking either the treatment or the placebo, they slept at our lab while wearing a special cap with 256 monitors on it. This high-density electroencephalogram or EEG allowed us to record the electrical activity of the brain while the person slept.

    The next morning, after they either woke or were woken, they performed a driving simulation test around the time of their normal morning commute.

    They also underwent a test that assessed their ability to stay awake in a quiet, dimly lit environment. To track their alertness throughout the day, they repeated this test four times while wearing the high-density EEG cap. This was so we could test their alertness the day after either the treatment or the placebo.

    What we found

    Our results were not what we expected.

    We found the THC/CBD treatment decreased total sleep time by an average of 24.5 minutes. This was largely driven by a significant impact on REM sleep (the phase associated with dreaming), which not only decreased by an average of 33.9 minutes but also took significantly longer for participants to enter. The treatment also offered no benefit in helping participants stay asleep throughout the night.

    Perhaps most intriguingly, this objective worsening of sleep wasn’t reflected in the participants’ own perceptions; they reported no change in their subjective sleep quality. This disconnect continued into the next day.

    While participants noted feeling slightly more sleepy after the treatment, their objective alertness – measured by their ability to stay awake in a quiet, dimly lit room – was reassuringly unchanged, as was their cognitive and simulated driving performance.

    This leads to a crucial question: if a single dose produces these changes, what are the cumulative effects on a person’s sleep after weeks, months, or years of nightly use?

    We simply don’t have the answers yet, especially with a medical-grade cannabis product.

    A growing body of research

    Our findings underscore a significant gap between the widespread public perception of cannabis for sleep and the complex scientific reality. As highlighted by a review we published in the journal Current Psychiatry Reports, the evidence base remains thin.

    We reviewed 21 recent studies (published between 2021 and 2024) of cannabinoids being used for insomnia, subjective sleep impairment, obstructive sleep apnoea, rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder, and restless legs syndrome.

    We found that, despite its widespread use, there’s not enough research yet to support the use of medical cannabis to treat sleep disorders.

    This is why this kind of research is so vital. It provides the first pieces of a much larger puzzle.

    To give doctors and patients the clear guidance they need, there is an urgent need for adequately funded, well-designed clinical trials with larger sample sizes and longer treatment durations to truly understand the long-term impacts of medicinal cannabis on sleep and daytime functioning.

    Camilla Hoyos is a Research Leader within the Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. The Woolcock sleep group received funding from Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Therapeutics (a philanthropic centre based at The University of Sydney) for this study and for another unpublished trial in the same space. Woolcock sleep group also received funding to be a site on an industry-sponsored clinical trial on a cannabinoids medicine in insomnia. Camilla Hoyos is also a board member of the Australasian Sleep Association. This study described in this article was a collaboration between the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Research.

    Anastasia has previously received funding from the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, a philanthropically funded research initiative at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney. She has received consulting fees from the Medicinal Cannabis Industry Australia for a commissioned review article and Haleon (a consumer health-care subsidiary of GSK) for non-cannabinoid related work. She is a committee member for the Sleep Health Week Working Party and an expert speaker for the Sleep Health Foundation.

    – ref. Cannabinoid products may reduce total sleep time in adults with insomnia: new study – https://theconversation.com/cannabinoid-products-may-reduce-total-sleep-time-in-adults-with-insomnia-new-study-256467

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor leads in two Victorian state polls, but Premier Jacinta Allan’s approval tanks

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    Labor leads in Victorian state polls by Newspoll and Redbridge, but Premier Jacinta Allan is very unpopular. Two federal polls give Labor big leads and a Tasmanian poll suggests Tasmanians would support Labor seeking to form a government with the Greens and independents.

    The next Victorian state election will be held in November 2026. The first Newspoll since the 2022 election was conducted June 23–30, but no sample size was given. It gave Labor a 53–47 lead (55.0–45.0 to Labor at the last election). Primary votes were 35% Labor, 35% Coalition, 12% Greens and 18% for all Others.

    Despite the clear Labor lead on voting intentions, Labor Premier Jacinta Allan’s net approval was a dismal -31, with 61% dissatisfied and 30% satisfied. Liberal leader Brad Battin led Allan as preferred premier by 41–36. Battin had a net approval of -5.

    Just 25% said Labor deserved to be re-elected, while 59% said it was time to give someone else a go. But by 60–40, voters were not confident the Coalition was ready to govern.

    The Poll Bludger said that by 59–32, voters supported the Suburban Rail Loop, but they were worried rather than confident by huge margins on four policy areas: state debt (78% worried, 13% confident), law and order (76–20), hospitals (71–25) and housing (78–16).

    A Victorian Redbridge poll for The Herald Sun, conducted June 19–30 from a sample of 1,183, gave Labor a 51.5–48.5 lead, a 2.5-point gain for Labor since the last Victorian Redbridge poll in April. Primary votes were 38% Coalition (down three), 33% Labor (up four), 14% Greens (up one) and 15% for all Others (down two).

    By 55–27, voters did not think the Allan government had the right focus and priorities. But by 45–26, they did not think Battin and the Coalition had done enough to deserve to win the next election.

    Labor has held government in Victoria since they won the 2014 election, and for all but one term (2010–14) since they won the 1999 election. By November 2026, Labor will have governed for the last 12 years and 23 of the last 27 years. It’s reasonable to expect an “it’s time” factor at the next election.

    It’s plausible that federal Labor’s surprise landslide at the May 3 election has assisted Labor at other levels of government. Normally a government with a premier at -31 net approval would be way behind on voting intentions.

    The Coalition will hope that any boost for state Labor from the federal election will be temporary. There’s still a long time until the next state election, so Labor could fall back as voters focus more on state politics.

    Another possible explanation for Labor’s lead despite a very unpopular premier is the infighting within the Liberals over the fallout between John Pesutto and Moira Deeming.

    Redbridge and DemosAU federal polls have big Labor leads

    A national Redbridge poll, conducted in late June from a sample of 4,036, was reported by The Financial Review. Labor led by 55.5–44.5, almost unchanged from the election result (55.2–44.8 to Labor). Primary votes were 37% Labor, 31% Coalition, 11% Greens and 21% for all Others. One Nation is likely to have made up a high proportion of Others, otherwise Labor’s two-party lead would be higher.

    This poll gave Labor a 68–32 lead with those aged 18–34 and a 57–43 lead with those aged 35–49. With those aged 50–64, there was a 50–50 tie, while the Coalition led by 55–45 with those aged 65 and older. The Greens’ primary vote was 24% with the youngest demographic, but just 2% with the oldest.

    A national DemosAU poll, conducted July 5–6 from a sample of 1,199, gave Labor a 59–41 lead, from primary votes of 36% Labor, 26% Coalition, 14% Greens, 9% One Nation and 15% for all Others. Education breakdowns had Labor winning by 55–45 with school-educated people, 61–39 with those with a TAFE education and 59–41 with the university educated.

    After their landslide re-election, Labor is getting a second honeymoon in the polls. One Nation was overstated at the election, but perhaps their increase from 6.4% then reflects dissatisfaction on the right with Sussan Ley’s leadership of the Liberals.

    YouGov Tasmanian poll on hung parliament options

    The Tasmanian state election will be held on July 19, only 16 months after the previous election in March 2024. Tasmania uses a proportional system for its lower house elections, and polls suggest another hung parliament is likely. A YouGov poll, conducted June 12–16 from a sample of 842 for The Australia Institute, was reported by The Tasmanian Times on Wednesday.

    Voting intentions were not released, but results of questions were released on whether Labor or the Liberals should seek to form a government with the Greens and independents if they were not elected in their own right.

    For Labor, by 55–31 voters agreed they should seek to form such a government, including 61–25 agree with Labor voters. For the Liberals, by 48–37 voters agreed they should try to form such a government, but Liberal voters disagreed by 46–45.

    Adrian Beaumont 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. Labor leads in two Victorian state polls, but Premier Jacinta Allan’s approval tanks – https://theconversation.com/labor-leads-in-two-victorian-state-polls-but-premier-jacinta-allans-approval-tanks-260553

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • South America – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 10, 2025

    South America: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on July 10, 2025.

    MIL-OSI China: 119 confirmed dead in US Texas flooding, death toll to continue surging
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News The July 4 devastating flooding in central Texas has claimed at least 119 lives as of Wednesday morning, with the death toll widely expected to further climb, local authorities said. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed that at least 161 people remain missing in the hardest-hit […]

    MIL-OSI United Nations: Spain and Brazil push global action to tax the super-rich and curb inequality
    Source: United Nations 4 Presented during the UN’s 4th International Conference on Financing for Development – taking place this week in Sevilla, Spain – the proposal highlights a growing problem: the richest individuals often contribute less to public finances than ordinary taxpayers, thanks to lower effective tax rates and legal loopholes. “Our countries need more […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces additional deployment of California resources to support New Mexico following Texas and Oregon disaster response efforts
    Source: US State of California Governor Jul 9, 2025 What you need to know: California is sending more resources to assist New Mexico, Oregon, and Texas in disaster response, including incident support personnel and Urban Search and Rescue teams.  SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that California is continuing to answer calls for assistance […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Following Deadly Flooding, Luján Sounds Alarm on Dangerous Republican Plan to Gut Public Broadcasting
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico) In Every Corner of New Mexico, New Mexicans Rely on Public Broadcasting to Stay Safe During Natural Disasters and Connect with Trusted News WATCH Senator Luján’s Floor Speech HERE Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the […]

    MIL-OSI USA: ICE arrests one of El Salvador’s “Top 100 Most Wanted” hiding in Nebraska
    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement OMAHA, Neb. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations arrested a high-ranking member of the violent MS-13 gang who was listed among El Salvador’s top 100 most wanted fugitives July 9. The Salvadoran national is a criminal alien wanted in El Salvador for the aggravated homicide of […]

    MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton holds Change of Command Ceremony in Panama City
    Source: United States Coast Guard U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/09/2025 06:00 PM EDT News Release   U.S. Coast Guard Southeast District PA Detachment JacksonvilleContact: Coast Guard PA Detachment JacksonvilleOffice: 904-714-7606/7607After Hours: 786-393-4138PA Detachment Jacksonville online newsroom   07/09/2025 05:36 PM EDT The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753) held a […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Illegal Alien from Honduras Sentenced to Prison in Vast Alien Smuggling Conspiracy
    Source: US State of North Dakota A Honduran national unlawfully residing in the United States was sentenced today in the Western District of Texas for his leadership role in a massive alien smuggling conspiracy that spanned three years and involved thousands of aliens from over 11 different countries. Enil Edil Mejia-Zuniga, also known as Chino, […]

    MIL-OSI United Nations: General Assembly Adopts Decision on Themes of Interactive Dialogues for 2026 United Nations Water Conference
    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council The General Assembly in a decision adopted by consensus today made public the themes of the six interactive dialogues for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference. Defined “without any particular order of priority”, the themes include:  the human rights to water and sanitation; the promotion of integrated […]

    MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Alien from Honduras Sentenced to Prison in Vast Alien Smuggling Conspiracy
    Source: United States Attorneys General A Honduran national unlawfully residing in the United States was sentenced today in the Western District of Texas for his leadership role in a massive alien smuggling conspiracy that spanned three years and involved thousands of aliens from over 11 different countries. Enil Edil Mejia-Zuniga, also known as Chino, 34, […]

    MIL-OSI USA: ICE Rio Grande Valley investigation results in Georgia woman sentenced for smuggling firearms into Mexico
    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement BROWNSVILLE, Texas — A Georgia woman was sentenced for smuggling several firearms and magazines hidden in a vehicle’s gas tank following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Rio Grande Valley. Mirna Luna, 38, was sentenced July 9 by U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. […]

    MIL-OSI: Credicorp Ltd.: Credicorp to Host Investor Day on October 9, 2025, in New York
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) Lima, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lima, Peru, July 9, 2025 – Credicorp (NYSE: BAP | BVL: BAP), announces its upcoming 2025 Investor Day and 30th IPO Anniversary Celebration, scheduled for Thursday, October 9, 2025, in New York. At this event, Credicorp’s leadership will reflect on its 30 years of transformation […]

    MIL-OSI: APA Corporation Provides Second-Quarter 2025 Supplemental Information and Schedules Results Conference Call for August 7 at 10 a.m. Central Time
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) HOUSTON, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — APA Corporation (Nasdaq: APA) today provided supplemental information regarding certain second-quarter 2025 financial and operational results. This information is intended only to provide additional information regarding current estimates management believes will affect results for the second-quarter 2025. It is provided to assist investors, analysts and […]

    MIL-OSI: South Plains Financial, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Call
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) LUBBOCK, Texas, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — South Plains Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPFI) (“South Plains” or the “Company”), the parent company of City Bank, today announced that its second quarter 2025 financial results will be released after market close on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. The Company will host a conference call and […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Luján, Boozman Reintroduce Legislation to Prevent Physical Therapy Interruptions
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico) Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.) reintroduced the Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act to prevent the interruption of physical therapy services nationwide. For many senior Medicare patients, physical therapy services can help restore mobility […]

    MIL-OSI USA: July 9th, 2025

    N.M. Congressional Delegation Calls on President Trump to Grant State’s Major Disaster Declaration Request in Response to Severe Flooding
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich N.M. Delegation: “It is imperative that the federal government provides full support needed for New Mexico communities to respond and recover. Anything less would leave families vulnerable and prolong the suffering of those already facing unimaginable loss” RUIDOSO, N.M. — As families mourn […]

    MIL-OSI Security: Cuban National Pleads Guilty to Stealing More Than $800,000 From Elderly Victim’s Bank Account
    Source: Office of United States Attorneys MIAMI – Michel Duarte Suarez, 50, a Cuban national, pleaded guilty for his role in a scheme he directed from his residence in Panama to obtain control over an elderly victim’s bank account, steal more than $800,000 from the victim’s account, and then launder the proceeds with the assistance […]

    PM Modi departs for New Delhi after concluding five-nation tour
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday departed for New Delhi after wrapping up his five-nation visit to Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X: “A highly productive and successful five-nation tour to […]

    MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Marines and Servicio Nacional Aeronaval train together
    Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND U.S. Marines with the 2d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and members of the Servicio Nacional Aeronaval (SENAN), or Aeronaval, in Panamá City, Panamá, are working shoulder to shoulder sharing knowledge and skill sets to enhance the vital partnership between the Department of Defense and the Panamanian […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: Alexander Novak: REW-2025 will become a key platform for discussing current energy issues
    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. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held the second meeting of the organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the international forum “Russian Energy Week”. The meeting was […]

    MIL-OSI Banking: Brazil Chapter Hosts Technical/Operational Meeting
    Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC Headline: Brazil Chapter Hosts Technical/Operational Meeting On 17 June 2025, the IADC Brazil Chapter hosted another important Technical/Operational Meeting, held at the Royal Macaé Palace Hotel. The meeting brought together industry representatives to share experiences, lessons learned, and best practices, reinforcing a commitment to safety and operational […]

  • India – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 10, 2025

    India: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on July 10, 2025.

    MIL-OSI Submissions: India – Hellmann India receives “Best Place to Work” certificate for the second year in a row
    Source: Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Osnabrueck, Delhi, July 09, 2025 – Hellmann Worldwide Logistics India has for the second year in a row received the certification as a Best Workplaces™ in Transportation & Logistics 2025 by the Great Place to Work® Institute India. The recognition highlights the company’s consistent strength in people management and its commitment […]

    MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung India Begins Pre Orders for Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7 – The Most Advanced Galaxy Z series yet
    Source: Samsung Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today announced that it has begun taking pre orders for the most advanced Galaxy Z series yet – Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7.   Galaxy Z Fold7 brings together the best of Galaxy design, camera functionality and AI innovation in the thinnest and lightest Galaxy […]

    India aims for energy independence by 2047 and net-zero by 2070: Hardeep Singh Puri
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) India has outlined a bold roadmap for energy security and a sustainable future at the 9th OPEC International Seminar held in Vienna, Austria. Addressing global energy leaders and industry experts, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, emphasized India’s commitment to achieving energy independence […]

    MIL-OSI Africa: India: Prime Minister pays homage to the Founding Father and First President of Namibia, Dr. Sam Nujoma, at Heroes Acre memorial
    Source: APO . Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid homage to the Founding Father and the First President of Namibia, Dr. Sam Nujoma at the Heroes Acre memorial. Prime Minister remembered Dr. Sam Nujoma as a visionary leader who devoted his life to the struggle for Namibia’s independence. As the first President of free Namibia, […]

    MIL-OSI Africa: India: Prime Minister conferred with Namibia’s highest civilian award
    Source: APO . Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is paying a State Visit to Namibia. On the occasion, the President of Namibia, H.E. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah conferred on Prime Minister the highest civilian award of Namibia – Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis. He is the first Indian leader to be given this award. ​Accepting […]

    MIL-OSI Africa: India: Prime Minister meets with the President of Namibia
    Source: APO . On the occasion of his State Visit to Namibia, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met today with the President of Namibia, H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the State House in Windhoek. On arrival at the State House, Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Nandi-Ndaitwah and accorded a ceremonial reception. This visit […]

    Lord’s Test: Jofra Archer makes hotly-anticipated return to England team for 3rd Test against India
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) England’s Jofra Archer has been named in the team to face India in the third test of the series at Lord’s, England’s cricket board (ECB) announced on Wednesday, as the fast bowler prepares for his first test in more than four years. Archer will replace fellow […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: Nine killed in western India bridge collapse
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News NEW DELHI, July 9 (Xinhua) — At least nine people were killed and more than six injured […]

    MIL-OSI Economics: RBI releases Draft Reserve Bank of India (Novation of OTC Derivative Contracts) Directions, 2025 under Section 45 W of the RBI Act, 1934
    Source: Reserve Bank of India The Reserve Bank of India today placed on its website Draft Reserve Bank of India (Novation of OTC Derivative Contracts) Directions, 2025. Comments on the draft Directions are invited from banks, market participants and other interested parties by August 01, 2025. Feedback on the draft Directions may be forwarded to: […]

    Indian stock market settles lower amid selling in IT and metal stocks
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) The Indian stock markets closed lower after a volatile session on Wednesday amid selling in the IT and metals stocks, especially in Vedanta and Hindustan Zinc. Sensex settled at 83,536.08, down 176.43 points or 0.21 per cent. The 30-share index opened in negative territory at 83,625.89 […]

    Raksha Khadse visits Khelo India weightlifting academy with Mirabai Chanu
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Raksha Khadse on Wednesday visited the Weightlifting Warriors Academy in Modinagar, a premier training centre under the Khelo India Accredited Academy initiative. She was accompanied by Olympic medalist Mirabai Chanu, Chief National Coach Vijay Sharma, Indian Weightlifting […]

    Jofra Archer returns to England team for third test vs India
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) England’s Jofra Archer has been named in the team to face India in the third test of the series at Lord’s, England’s cricket board (ECB) announced on Wednesday, as the fast bowler prepares for his first test in more than four years. Archer will replace fellow […]

    Indian Navy inducts ‘Nistar’, first indigenous diving support vessel
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) The Indian Navy on Tuesday marked the induction of its first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), Nistar. The vessel was formally handed over by Hindustan Shipyard Limited during a ceremony held in Visakhapatnam. Built in accordance with the classification rules of the Indian […]

    MIL-OSI Economics: Empowering the Frontlines: Skill Fest 2025 Celebrates Samsung India’s Commitment to Service Excellence
    Source: Samsung   Samsung India’s relentless pursuit of customer delight isn’t just built on innovation. It thrives on the strength of its people. In a powerful display of that commitment, Skill Fest 2025, a national-level skill enhancement initiative, has emerged as a one-of-a-kind platform that empowers Samsung’s Service Engineers and Customer Care Officers to excel, […]

    Indian NBFCs to clock 25 pc growth in education loan assets in FY26 amid US uncertainties
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) For non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) in India, education loans have been the fastest-growing asset class, clocking over 50 per cent growth in the assets under management (AUM) over the past few years, a report said on Wednesday. This fiscal (FY26), growth is seen moderating to 25 […]

    Indian NBFCs to clock 25 pc growth in education loan AUM in FY26 amid US uncertainties
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) For non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) in India, education loans have been the fastest-growing asset class, clocking over 50 per cent growth in the assets under management (AUM) over the past few years, a report said on Wednesday. This fiscal (FY26), growth is seen moderating to 25 […]

    India’s internet subscribers cross 969 million in FY25, driven by broadband growth: TRAI
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) India’s internet subscriber base grew by 1.54% in the financial year 2024–25, rising from 954.40 million in March 2024 to 969.10 million in March 2025, according to data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday. The growth was primarily driven by an […]

    Broadband subscribers in India cross 944 million, up 2.17% in FY 25: TRAI
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) The number of broadband subscribers rose to 944.12 million in India, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) data showed on Tuesday. TRAI released its “Indian Telecom Services – Yearly Performance Indicators Report” for 2024–25, offering a detailed overview of India’s telecom and broadcasting sectors from […]

    India set to explore over 2.5 lakh sq km in one of the largest offshore energy efforts
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) In one of the world’s largest offshore energy exploration initiatives, India is set to explore more than 2.5 lakh square kilometres under the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) Round X, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday. “We are ready to […]

    India and Brazil reaffirm strategic partnership with roadmap for next decade
    Source: Government of India Source: Government of India (4) Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a State Visit to Brazil on Tuesday at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with both leaders pledging to deepen ties across a wide range of strategic areas. In a joint statement, the two nations reaffirmed their commitment […]

  • China – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 10, 2025

    China: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on July 10, 2025.

    MIL-OSI China: South Korean court approves new arrest of ex-President Yoon
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News A Seoul court on Thursday issued a warrant to arrest former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol over last December’s martial law decree, marking his second detention in connection with the case, Yonhap news agency reported. The Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant after a hearing, […]

    MIL-OSI China: 119 confirmed dead in US Texas flooding, death toll to continue surging
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News The July 4 devastating flooding in central Texas has claimed at least 119 lives as of Wednesday morning, with the death toll widely expected to further climb, local authorities said. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha confirmed that at least 161 people remain missing in the hardest-hit […]

    MIL-OSI China: Chinese state councilor calls for expanded services consumption, safeguarded livelihoods
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Chinese state councilor calls for expanded services consumption, safeguarded livelihoods NANCHANG, July 9 — Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin has called for efforts to expand services consumption in sectors like culture, tourism and elderly care, and to strengthen work on the key issues affecting people’s livelihoods. […]

    MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier calls for agricultural innovation, technological self-reliance
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Chinese vice premier calls for agricultural innovation, technological self-reliance BEIJING, July 9 — Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong has stressed the importance of promoting agricultural sci-tech innovation and the application of such advances, and of achieving greater self-reliance and strength in agricultural science and technology to […]

    MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier meets BASF CEO
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Markus Kamieth, chairman of BASF’s Board of Executive Directors, in Beijing, capital of China, July 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING, July 9 — Chinese Vice […]

    MIL-OSI China: China, Egypt should consistently facilitate two-way trade, investment, Chinese premier says
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News China, Egypt should consistently facilitate two-way trade, investment, Chinese premier says Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives Hanafy Ali Gebaly in Cairo, Egypt, July 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] CAIRO, July 9 — China and Egypt should consistently facilitate two-way trade […]

    MIL-OSI China: China voices support for Arab nations’ unity, development — premier
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit in Cairo, Egypt, July 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] CAIRO, July 9 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Wednesday that China supports Arab countries in strengthening strategic autonomy, enhancing unity and self-reliance, and pursuing development […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: China supports Arab solidarity and development – Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China /more details/
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News CAIRO, July 9 (Xinhua) — China supports Arab countries in strengthening their strategic independence, enhancing unity and […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: China supports Arab solidarity and development: Premier of State Council of China
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News CAIRO, July 9 (Xinhua) — China supports Arab countries in strengthening their strategic independence, enhancing unity and […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: China, Egypt should continuously simplify trade and investment procedures: Chinese Premier
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News CAIRO, July 9 (Xinhua) — China and Egypt should continuously simplify bilateral trade and investment procedures, strengthen […]

    MIL-OSI Europe: JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on tackling China’s critical raw materials export restrictions – RC-B10-0324/2025
    Source: European Parliament Hildegard Benteleon behalf of the PPE GroupKathleen Van Brempton behalf of the S&D GroupBeata Szydłoon behalf of the ECR GroupBart Groothuis, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Engin Eroglu, Christophe Grudler, Svenja Hahn, Ľubica Karvašová, Michał Kobosko, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Nathalie Loiseau, Marie‑Agnes Strack‑Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Marie‑Pierre Vedrenne, Lucia Yaron behalf […]

    MIL-OSI Europe: JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on tackling China’s critical raw materials export restrictions – RC-B10-0324/2025/REV1
    Source: European Parliament Hildegard Benteleon behalf of the PPE GroupKathleen Van Brempton behalf of the S&D GroupBeata Szydło, Mariusz Kamińskion behalf of the ECR GroupBart Groothuis, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Engin Eroglu, Christophe Grudler, Svenja Hahn, Ľubica Karvašová, Michał Kobosko, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Nathalie Loiseau, Marie‑Agnes Strack‑Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Marie‑Pierre Vedrenne, Lucia […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: Urgent: China, Egypt should continuously simplify trade and investment procedures: Chinese Premier
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News CAIRO, July 9 (Xinhua) — China and Egypt should continuously simplify bilateral trade and investment procedures, strengthen […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: China allocates 150 million yuan to eliminate consequences of natural disasters
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News BEIJING, July 9 (Xinhua) — Chinese authorities have allocated 150 million yuan (about 20.97 million U.S. dollars) […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking News: China Ready to Work with Arab Countries to Build a Fairer, More Reasonable Global Governance System — Chinese Premier
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News CAIRO, July 9 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in the Egyptian capital on Wednesday that […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking: China supports Arab solidarity and development – Chinese Premier
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News CAIRO, July 9 (Xinhua) — China supports Arab countries in strengthening their strategic independence, enhancing unity and […]

    MIL-OSI Analysis: China’s interest in the next Dalai Lama is also about control of Tibet’s water supply
    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tom Harper, Lecturer in International Relations, University of East London As the 14th Dalai Lama celebrates his 90th birthday with thousands of Tibetan Buddhists, there’s already tension over how the next spiritual leader will be selected. Controversially, the Chinese government has suggested it wants more power over who […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: China-Russia EXPO has become a bright calling card of bilateral relations – Ambassador of China to Russia Zhang Hanhui
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Moscow, July 9 /Xinhua/ — The 9th China-Russia EXPO, which opened in Yekaterinburg, has already become a […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: US media “fueling” rhetoric about China’s “theft of intellectual property” — Chinese ambassador to Russia
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Moscow, July 9 /Xinhua/ — In recent days, some American politicians and media outlets have once again […]

    MIL-OSI Banking: Africa-China Linkages: Building Deeper and Broader Connections
    Source: International Monetary Fund Summary Africa has made remarkable strides across many development metrics, significantly improving life expectancy, literacy, health, and education. With its population set to double to around 2 billion by 2050, Africa’s economic trajectory will increasingly shape global dynamics. Central to this growth story are Africa’s economic and financial linkages with China, […]

  • Economy – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 10, 2025

    Economy: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on July 10, 2025.

    MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Introduces Bill to Strengthen Benefits for American Workers
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama) WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in cosponsoring the Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act, which establishes a safe harbor under federal law for companies that would like to voluntarily provide employee benefits. This would apply to any benefit or protection commonly provided to full-time […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Introduces Bill to Strengthen Benefits for American Workers
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama) WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in cosponsoring the Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act, which establishes a safe harbor under federal law for companies that would like to voluntarily provide employee benefits. This would apply to any benefit or protection commonly provided to full-time […]

    MIL-OSI Banking: Project Acacia: RBA and DFCRC announce chosen industry participants and ASIC provides regulatory relief for tokenised asset settlement research project
    Source: Reserve Bank of Australia Project Acacia has today reached a significant milestone with a number of industry participants (see below) selected to explore how innovations in digital money and existing settlement infrastructure might support the development of Australian wholesale tokenised asset markets. Project Acacia is a joint initiative between the Reserve Bank of Australia […]

    MIL-OSI Australia: Project Acacia: RBA and DFCRC announce chosen industry participants and ASIC provides regulatory relief for tokenised asset settlement research project
    Source: Airservices Australia Project Acacia has today reached a significant milestone with a number of industry participants (see below) selected to explore how innovations in digital money and existing settlement infrastructure might support the development of Australian wholesale tokenised asset markets. Project Acacia is a joint initiative between the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and […]

    MIL-OSI China: Chinese state councilor calls for expanded services consumption, safeguarded livelihoods
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Chinese state councilor calls for expanded services consumption, safeguarded livelihoods NANCHANG, July 9 — Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin has called for efforts to expand services consumption in sectors like culture, tourism and elderly care, and to strengthen work on the key issues affecting people’s livelihoods. […]

    MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier meets BASF CEO
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Markus Kamieth, chairman of BASF’s Board of Executive Directors, in Beijing, capital of China, July 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING, July 9 — Chinese Vice […]

    MIL-OSI China: China, Egypt should consistently facilitate two-way trade, investment, Chinese premier says
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News China, Egypt should consistently facilitate two-way trade, investment, Chinese premier says Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives Hanafy Ali Gebaly in Cairo, Egypt, July 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] CAIRO, July 9 — China and Egypt should consistently facilitate two-way trade […]

    MIL-OSI China: China voices support for Arab nations’ unity, development — premier
    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit in Cairo, Egypt, July 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] CAIRO, July 9 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Wednesday that China supports Arab countries in strengthening strategic autonomy, enhancing unity and self-reliance, and pursuing development […]

    MIL-OSI Submissions: Technology – Moldova’s Virtual IT Park Attracts Global Attention with Record Growth and €1 Billion Revenue Target – MITP
    Source: Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP) Chisinau, Moldova, July 9th,2025 – Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP), the first fully virtual IT park in Europe and a key pillar of Moldova’s innovation ecosystem, continues to break records and transform the country’s economic landscape. In 2025, MITP expects its resident companies to generate over €1 billion in […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – Economists moot bold income tax plan – UoA
    Source: University of Auckland (UoA) What if your income tax didn’t go to the government but into your own savings account? A bold proposal makes the case. New Zealand’s ageing population and ballooning welfare and health costs are piling pressure on the public purse. In response, former Minister of Finance Sir Roger Douglas and University […]

    MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New data points to growing social and economic impact of charity sector amidst challenging financial environment.
    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments Press release New data points to growing social and economic impact of charity sector amidst challenging financial environment. New insights from sector data suggest that charities have been able to direct additional resources to delivering their aims, amidst a tightening financial squeeze. The Charity Commission, the regulator […]

    MIL-OSI Economics: BSTDB Concludes the 27th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors in Yerevan
    Source: Black Sea Trade and Development Bank Press Release | 09-Jul-2025 Governors Reaffirm Support for BSTDB and Approve New Strategic Branding The Board of Governors of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) held its 27th Annual Meeting under the Chairmanship of Mr. Artur Javadyan, BSTDB Governor for the Republic of Armenia.  The Meeting […]

    MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon offers Samsung’s thinnest-ever Galaxy Z Fold7 and redesigned Z Flip7 at huge savings
    Source: Verizon Headline: Verizon offers Samsung’s thinnest-ever Galaxy Z Fold7 and redesigned Z Flip7 at huge savings [TL;DR] Get a Galaxy Z Flip7 on us, or $1,100 off a Galaxy Z Fold7 with Unlimited Ultimate and eligible trade-in on select manufacturer devices. Any condition guaranteed. Google AI Pro Perk on us: Get Google AI Pro […]

    MIL-OSI Economics: Amanda Serrano and Total Wireless champion the everyday fighters who don’t fight in rings
    Source: Verizon Headline: Amanda Serrano and Total Wireless champion the everyday fighters who don’t fight in rings NEW YORK – Three days before Amanda Serrano steps back into the ring with Katie Taylor at Madison Square Garden, she knows what it means to be underestimated. The boxer has spent her career proving doubters wrong – […]

    MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘We Must Act Now to Safeguard Biodiversity, Build Coastal Resilience’, Says Deputy Secretary-General, at Blue Economy Conference in Gulf of Guinea
    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks at the opening ceremony of the International Conference on the Blue Economy in the Gulf of Guinea, in Cameroon today: I wish to express my deep appreciation to the President, Government and people of Cameroon for hosting this landmark […]

    MIL-OSI Russia: The bill on regulating the platform economy was adopted by the State Duma in the first reading
    Translation. Region: Russian Federal Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article. The State Duma deputies adopted the draft federal law “On Certain Issues of Regulating the Platform Economy in the Russian Federation” in the first reading, as well as […]

    MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Appointment of the Chair of the Financial Reporting Board of EFRAG – NEW – Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
    Source: European Parliament EFRAG logo © EFRAG, 2022 ECON will hold a public hearing with Dr Wolf Klinz in the framework of his renewal as Chair of the Financial Reporting Board (FRB) of the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG). The FRB is responsible for all positions taken at EFRAG on financial reporting, in particular […]

    MIL-OSI United Nations: Social and economic barriers, not choice, driving global fertility crisis: UNFPA
    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b The 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia has had an indelible effect on the civilian population, displacing millions, straining the economy and inflicting physical and mental trauma. During these dark years, the UN has stayed alongside the Ukrainian people, providing aid, necessities and healthcare, and restoring energy supplies. […]

    MIL-OSI United Nations: $1 towards a girl’s education = $3 for the global economy: That’s how development works
    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b The 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia has had an indelible effect on the civilian population, displacing millions, straining the economy and inflicting physical and mental trauma. During these dark years, the UN has stayed alongside the Ukrainian people, providing aid, necessities and healthcare, and restoring energy supplies. […]

    MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7: A Pocket-Sized AI Powerhouse With a New Edge-To-Edge FlexWindow
    Source: Samsung Compact in size, bold in capability – Galaxy Z Flip7 redefines the flip phone experience   JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip7, a compact AI phone with multimodal capabilities, powered by a new FlexWindow. Small enough to slip into a pocket, yet powerful enough to deliver the […]

  • Business – A Roundup of Significant Articles on ForeignAffairs.co.nz for July 10, 2025

    Business: Here is a summary of significant articles published on ForeignAffairs.co.nz on July 10, 2025.

    MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Announces Staff Additions, Trump Admin Appointments
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) announced 6 additions to his staff in Tennessee and Washington, D.C. Hagerty’s team continues to be fully operational and serving the great state of Tennessee. Brian McCormack will soon assume the role of Chief of Staff. McCormack […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Representatives Laurel Lee and Gus Bilirakis Respond to the Eighth Circuit Court’s Decision
    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Laurel Lee – Florida (15th District) Tampa, FL – Yesterday, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the FTC’s final Negative Option Rule put in place by Lina Khan, October 2024. The rule was set to be implemented in 2025.   In June, Congresswoman Laurel Lee introduced a […]

    MIL-OSI: AlphaTime Acquisition Corp Transfers to the Nasdaq Capital Market and Regains Compliance with Nasdaq Listing Requirements
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) New York, NY, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AlphaTime Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: ATMC, ATMCU, ATMCR, ATMCW) (“AlphaTime” or the “Company”), a special purpose acquisition company, today announced it has received written notice (the “Compliance Notice”) from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) informing the Company that it has regained compliance with […]

    MIL-OSI: ProCap Acquisition Corp Announces the Separate Trading of its Class A Ordinary Shares and Warrants, Commencing July 11, 2025
    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI) New York, NY, July 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ProCap Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: PCAPU) (the “Company”) announced today that, commencing July 11, 2025, the holders of the units issued in the Company’s initial public offering (the “Units”), each consisting of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per […]

    MIL-OSI Banking: Project Acacia: RBA and DFCRC announce chosen industry participants and ASIC provides regulatory relief for tokenised asset settlement research project
    Source: Reserve Bank of Australia Project Acacia has today reached a significant milestone with a number of industry participants (see below) selected to explore how innovations in digital money and existing settlement infrastructure might support the development of Australian wholesale tokenised asset markets. Project Acacia is a joint initiative between the Reserve Bank of Australia […]

    MIL-OSI Australia: Project Acacia: RBA and DFCRC announce chosen industry participants and ASIC provides regulatory relief for tokenised asset settlement research project
    Source: Airservices Australia Project Acacia has today reached a significant milestone with a number of industry participants (see below) selected to explore how innovations in digital money and existing settlement infrastructure might support the development of Australian wholesale tokenised asset markets. Project Acacia is a joint initiative between the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and […]

    MIL-OSI United Nations: Space is not the final frontier – it is the foundation of our future: UN deputy chief
    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b Addressing delegates at a UN forum on peaceful uses of outer space, Amina Mohammed urged greater international cooperation as the world becomes increasingly reliant on satellites for everything from disaster response to climate monitoring. “Space is not the final frontier. It is the foundation of our present,” she said. […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Research – Workers look at automation as an opportunity, not a threat – Robert Half
    Source: Robert Half 68% of employees believe automation will have a positive impact on their current job and career prospects. 64% of employees will participate in training to reskill for a new role with their current employer if their job is partially automated, while 16% will look for a new job with a different employer. […]

    MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘The margins of the budget’: Gender equality in developing countries underfunded by $420 billion annually
    Source: United Nations 4 “The money simply is not reaching the women and girls who need it most,” UN Women said in a news release issued on Monday.   This estimate comes in the midst of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development underway in Sevilla, Spain. There, world leaders are working to revitalize […]

    MIL-OSI United Nations: Spain and Brazil push global action to tax the super-rich and curb inequality
    Source: United Nations 4 Presented during the UN’s 4th International Conference on Financing for Development – taking place this week in Sevilla, Spain – the proposal highlights a growing problem: the richest individuals often contribute less to public finances than ordinary taxpayers, thanks to lower effective tax rates and legal loopholes. “Our countries need more […]

    MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa – GCR Upgrades ShafDB’s Long and Short-Term Issuer Ratings, Maintains Stable Outlook
    Source: Fast Media Nairobi – July 9, 2025 – Global Credit Ratings (GCR), has affirmed and upgraded Shelter Afrique Development Bank’s (ShafDB) international and several key national scale ratings, reflecting the Bank’s strengthened capital position, risk management improvements, and growing credibility across our its shareholder base. In its latest review, the Johannesburg-based rating agency has […]

    MIL-OSI Submissions: Technology – Moldova’s Virtual IT Park Attracts Global Attention with Record Growth and €1 Billion Revenue Target – MITP
    Source: Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP) Chisinau, Moldova, July 9th,2025 – Moldova Innovation Technology Park (MITP), the first fully virtual IT park in Europe and a key pillar of Moldova’s innovation ecosystem, continues to break records and transform the country’s economic landscape. In 2025, MITP expects its resident companies to generate over €1 billion in […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – Economists moot bold income tax plan – UoA
    Source: University of Auckland (UoA) What if your income tax didn’t go to the government but into your own savings account? A bold proposal makes the case. New Zealand’s ageing population and ballooning welfare and health costs are piling pressure on the public purse. In response, former Minister of Finance Sir Roger Douglas and University […]

    MIL-OSI New Zealand: Bridging a gap on West Coast Cycle Trail
    Source: New Zealand Government A new cycle bridge on the West Coast Wilderness Cycle Trail will bring more visitors to the region and boost the local economy. “I’m thrilled to be supporting the construction of the Totara River Rail Bridge, ensuring visitors can once again ride this popular trail from start to finish,” Tourism and […]

    MIL-OSI USA: The One Big Beautiful Bill Invests in Families
    US Senate News: Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo Washington, D.C.–The One Big Beautiful Bill Act invests in American families by making the Trump tax cuts permanent, enhancing the child tax credit and strengthening childcare assistance. Together, these measures make raising a family more affordable for hardworking taxpayers.  “This legislation not only prevents […]

    MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New data points to growing social and economic impact of charity sector amidst challenging financial environment.
    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments Press release New data points to growing social and economic impact of charity sector amidst challenging financial environment. New insights from sector data suggest that charities have been able to direct additional resources to delivering their aims, amidst a tightening financial squeeze. The Charity Commission, the regulator […]

    MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New action to tackle illegal and exploitative children’s homes
    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments Press release New action to tackle illegal and exploitative children’s homes Up to 200 places will be created for vulnerable children in council-run high-quality children’s homes with £53 million The most vulnerable children in society will be better protected from unsafe, illegal children’s homes thanks to over […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Donalds Leads Bicameral Coalition To Prevent Federal Overreach Into Self-Directed 401K Investments
    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) has introduced bicameral legislation to prevent the federal government from imposing burdensome restrictions on how Americans can invest into their self-directed 401Ks. H.R. 2544 – “The Financial Freedom Act of 2025” is the 13th piece of legislation introduced by Congressman Donalds during the […]

    MIL-OSI USA: Donalds Leads Coalition To Increase Access To Capital For Small Businesses And Small Banks
    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) Donalds Leads Coalition To Increase Access To Capital For Small Businesses And Small Banks Washington, April 11, 2025 WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) has introduced transformative legislation to increase access to capital for small businesses and small banks.H.R. 2835 – “The Small Bank Holding Company Relief […]

    MIL-OSI Banking: Reasoning reimagined: Introducing Phi-4-mini-flash-reasoning
    Source: Microsoft Headline: Reasoning reimagined: Introducing Phi-4-mini-flash-reasoning Unlock faster, efficient reasoning with Phi-4-mini-flash-reasoning—optimized for edge, mobile, and real-time applications. State of the art architecture redefines speed for reasoning models Microsoft is excited to unveil a new edition to the Phi model family: Phi-4-mini-flash-reasoning. Purpose-built for scenarios where compute, memory, and latency are tightly constrained, this […]