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Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is aflatoxin, the toxic chemical behind Coles’ peanut butter recall?

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

    Helen Camacaro/Getty

    Coles is recalling two of its homebrand peanut butter products, over concerns they have been contaminated with aflatoxin, a toxic chemical linked to liver cancer.

    The supermarket chain has issued the recall notice for Coles Smooth Peanut Butter 1kg and Coles Crunchy Peanut Butter 1kg, with the best before date of February 5 2027. They were sold in supermarkets and online nationally between May 1 and June 30 this year.

    Aflatoxin can cause injury or illness if eaten, according to Australia’s food safety authority.

    But what is aflatoxin? How does it get into food? And what is the risk if you eat it?

    What is aflatoxin? Where does it occur?

    Aflatoxins are a toxic chemical (a mycotoxin) produced by fungi. The mould-like fungi that produce aflatoxins belong to a large group called Aspergillus.

    These fungi are found in all environments, for example in soils, compost, building surfaces and on crops and other plants, and can cause infections or poisoning in humans and animals.

    Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which produce aflatoxins, thrive mainly in agricultural crops but also in soils, rotting food and compost. The fungi emerge as spores and form networks of microscopic filaments that can grow on products such as grains and nuts.

    As these fungi grow they release a range of chemicals, including aflatoxins, that can lead to contamination of produce before and after harvest, or after processing.

    Aflatoxins are some of the most poisonous types of mycotoxin.

    Different kinds of aflatoxins usually affect contaminated food (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1), crops (G2) and milk (M1).

    Which foods are most risky?

    Crops produced and stored in warm, humid or moist tropical locations are most at risk, as toxin-producing moulds thrive in these conditions.

    High-risk foods include peanuts, corn and tree nuts (such as brazil, walnut and pistachio nuts). The toxin-producing fungi can also grow on wheat, rice, sorghum and spice crops such as turmeric, chilli, ginger and coriander.

    If animals graze on contaminated crops, their milk and meat can also become contaminated.

    Internationally, the Joint Food and Agriculture Administration and World Health Organization is responsible for setting guidelines and monitoring standards for mycotoxins via its expert committee on food additives.

    In Australia, aflatoxin food contamination is not common. In the past decade, there have only been a handful of recalls.

    Why are aflatoxins dangerous?

    Aflatoxins can damage your liver and cause cancer.

    Eating a lot of contaminated foods over a short period of time can lead to aflatoxicosis, acute poisoning that immediately damages the liver. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and convulsions, and may be life-threating.

    Over a long period, smaller amounts of contaminated foods can lead to liver cancer, birth defects, kidney disease and immune system dysfunction.

    There is no specific treatment for alfatoxins. Management after acute or long-term exposure focuses on addressing symptoms and monitoring liver health.

    How can I stay safe?

    There is not much individuals can do to control the presence of aflatoxin and other mycotoxins in foods, as contamination occurs during agriculture and processing.

    You should store nuts and nut products in a way that stops mould growing. Use well-sealed containers kept in dry and cool conditions.

    Freezing and cooking may kill the fungi, but the toxin can survive extreme temperatures.

    Unfortunately, it is difficult to see the fungi with the naked eye. However you should avoid visibly mouldy foods and throw away nuts and grains that are shrivelled or discoloured.

    What should I do if I’ve bought or eaten these products?

    Coles has advised customers to return the products to stores and contact its hotline for more information (1800 061 562).

    If you’re concerned you may have eaten contaminated peanut butter, speak to a health professional.

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

    – ref. What is aflatoxin, the toxic chemical behind Coles’ peanut butter recall? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-aflatoxin-the-toxic-chemical-behind-coles-peanut-butter-recall-260194

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Parents are feeling anxious about men in childcare centres. Stronger rules would make everyone feel safer

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martyn Mills-Bayne, Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education, University of South Australia

    Getty Images

    Horrific allegations of child sexual abuse in childcare centres across Melbourne have put the role of men in early childhood education back in the spotlight.

    Coming after other major media reports of child mistreatment in care, many parents are feeling very anxious about the safety of their children.

    Some may be deeply suspicious of men working so closely with children. That caution is totally justified.

    But there are many innocent, well-intentioned and caring men working in centres across the country. They’re playing a vital role in a sector already plagued by well-documented staff shortages.

    Driving them out of the workforce would be a mistake for the sector, for parents and for children.



    Read more:
    Parents of kids in daycare are terrified following Melbourne abuse allegations. What can they do?

    Hyper-viligant behaviour

    Men are still a rarity in childcare centres nationally.

    The latest workforce data show about 8% of early childhood educators are male, though that statistic could include men who don’t work with children directly.

    We don’t know precisely how many early childhood educators are male, but best estimates are somewhere between 2–4% of the total workforce.

    Given there are so few of them, male educators often report being hyper-vigilant about how they do their jobs.

    I was once an early childhood teacher myself. Now in my academic research, I’ve spent almost 20 years mentoring men in the sector, including close to 100 male students coming through initial teacher education programs.

    They are extremely aware of protecting children and themselves. They talk about trying to make sure they’re never alone with children and use distancing strategies to keep themselves safe and in full view of colleagues and parents.

    If they’re changing nappies, they do so in open spaces, where others can see them. If a child is hurt or needs support, they often think twice about the most appropriate way to provide it.

    The men I hear from feel they are surveilled and monitored more closely than their female colleagues. Male educators must use a heightened degree of caution in their day-to-day caring work due to broad (largely unspoken) suspicions of sexual misconduct. This is an inherent part of being a male early childhood educator.

    There’s been no research done to determine whether men are watched more closely than women, but regardless, most don’t begrudge it. They fear ever harming a child, and would rather the extra supervision, perceived or real, to make everyone feel safer.

    Leaving the sector

    But early childhood education has an issue with worker attrition.

    This is especially concerning as pre-school for three-year-olds is rolled out in South Australia, Victoria and the ACT, increasing the demand for staff and pressure on services to meet staff ratios and keep children safe.

    Against this backdrop, it’s crucial we stem the tide of workers leaving the sector, including men.

    Unfortunately, men are often the first to leave, especially after cases of sexual abuse at other centres.

    In New Zealand, Peter Ellis was jailed in the 1990s for child sexual abuse in a creche, though his conviction was overturned posthumously in 2022.



    Read more:
    What are working with children checks? Why aren’t they keeping kids safe at daycare?

    The high profile case had long lasting negative impacts. Less than 1% of the childcare workforce in the country are men – one of the lowest participation rates in the world.

    Parental and societal concerns around the risk of abuse have a profound impact on retaining and attracting more male educators in early childhood education.

    This is also true at the student level. Typically, I see very few men enrol to study early childhood education (about four in a cohort of 150), but only about half that graduate. Many of these potential early childhood teachers drop their studies or move into primary teaching programs after they experience a sense of distrust during their professional placements in childcare.

    Keeping children safer

    Children who are abused experience lifelong trauma. Keeping them safe at all times should be the number one priority of educators and society at large.

    The Melbourne case has left many parents rightly cautious and feeling uncertain about leaving their children in the care of men. We may well see less interest from centres in employing men, as has happened after similar cases in the past.

    This would build on existing suspicions parents have of male educators.

    There’s no easy answer to this. But there are some things that may make early education safer.

    The first is to strengthen working with children screening checks, something the Victorian government has already flagged it will do.

    Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has also announced a statewide register of childcare workers to introduce “an extra layer of checks and balances”.

    Another is to ensure no educator, regardless of gender, is ever alone with a child. Though this may be challenging to achieve within tight staffing levels, it’s needed to prevent future abuse.

    The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse highlighted the need to make sure the physical environment minimises opportunity for abuse to occur. This includes glass walls around toilet and nappy change areas and no blind spots in centres.

    And finally, for parents to be scared and angry about this is to be human. But it’s also important to remember many men are doing the right thing, and male educators in the sector are also angry and concerned about this.

    Better processes and regulations would help restore confidence in parents that their children are safe in a man’s care. But it would also help male educators, who can do their work safe in the knowledge they’ve passed a robust set of requirements to get there.

    The Victorian government has set up a dedicated website and advice line for parents whose children may have been involved in the alleged offences.

    If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, you can call 1800 Respect on 1800 737 732, Lifeline on 131 114, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts (counselling and support for survivors of child sexual abuse) on 1800 272 831.

    Martyn Mills-Bayne 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. Parents are feeling anxious about men in childcare centres. Stronger rules would make everyone feel safer – https://theconversation.com/parents-are-feeling-anxious-about-men-in-childcare-centres-stronger-rules-would-make-everyone-feel-safer-260282

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • EU to add international CO2 credits to next climate goal

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The European Commission will on Wednesday propose an EU climate target for 2040 that for the first time will allow countries to use carbon credits from developing nations to meet a limited share of their emissions goal, a draft of the proposal showed.

    The draft, seen by Reuters, said the European Union executive would propose a legally-binding target to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, from 1990 levels – with the aim of keeping the EU on course for its core climate aim to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

    But following pressure from governments including France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic, the draft EU proposal includes flexibilities that would soften the 90% emissions target for European industries.

    Previous EU emissions targets have been based entirely on domestic emissions cuts.

    Reflecting Germany’s public stance, up to 3 percentage points of the 2040 target can be covered by carbon credits bought from other countries through a U.N.-backed market, the draft said, reducing the effort required by domestic industries.

    The carbon credits would be phased in from 2036, and the EU will propose legislation “setting robust and high integrity criteria and standards, and conditions on origin, timing and use of such credits,” the draft said.

    Countries would also get more flexibility on choosing which sectors in their economy contribute most towards the 2040 goal, it said.

    Climate change has made Europe the world’s fastest warming continent and a heatwave this week has caused wildfires and disruption across the continent, but Europe’s ambitious policies to combat temperature rise have stoked tensions within the 27-member bloc.

    While the European Commission has pitched its climate agenda as a way to improve Europe’s competitiveness and security, some governments and lawmakers say industries reeling from U.S. tariffs and high energy costs cannot afford tougher emissions rules.

    “Decarbonisation is not only crucial for the planet, but also a key driver of economic growth when integrated with industrial, competition, and trade policies,” the draft said.

    A Commission spokesperson declined to comment on the draft, which could change before it is published.

    Carbon credits are generated by projects that reduce CO2 emissions abroad – for example, forest restoration in Brazil, and raise funds for such projects. However, investigations have shown some credits failed to deliver the environmental benefits they claimed.

    The EU’s climate science advisers have opposed counting them towards the 2040 target, and said spending money on foreign carbon credits would divert investments from local industries.

    EU countries and lawmakers must negotiate and approve the 2040 goal. That lawmaking process can take years, but the EU faces a deadline of mid-September to submit a new 2035 climate target to the U.N. – which the Commission has said should be derived from the 2040 goal.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Economy – Appointments to Board of Reserve Bank of New Zealand

    Source: Reserve Bank of New Zealand

    1 July 2025 – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua welcomes the appointment of Grant Spencer and the reappointment of Byron Pepper to its governing Board.

    Mr Spencer will serve for a five-year term, from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2030. Mr Pepper will serve for a five-year term from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2030.

    Mr Spencer and Mr Pepper were appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister of Finance following their participation in a public appointment process run by Te Tai Ōhanga – The Treasury.

    Grant Spencer brings extensive expertise in central banking, financial stability, and monetary policy. He held several senior roles at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, including Deputy Governor, Head of Financial Stability (2007–2017), and Acting Governor (2017–2018). His international experience includes active participation in OECD and EMEAP forums, as well as contributions to the development of New Zealand’s capital markets.

    In addition to his professional experience, Mr Spencer is an Adjunct Professor at Victoria University of Wellington, with academic interests in financial regulation and macroeconomics. He holds advanced qualifications in economics and econometrics.

    “Mr Spencer’s appointment will enhance the Board’s expertise in prudential regulation, macro-prudential policy, and financial market operations, offering complementary strengths to existing board members, particularly in the context of New Zealand’s central banking landscape,” RBNZ Board Chair Professor Neil Quigley says.

    Byron Pepper continues to bring strong governance and financial expertise to the Board. An independent investment banking advisor and director, Mr Pepper has more than 25 years’ experience advising corporate and government clients, particularly in the financial services sector across New Zealand, Australia, and internationally.

    He is the former director of Ando Insurance Group Limited and currently serves as a director or trustee of several New Zealand-based entities. Mr Pepper is also the founder of Vorigo Advisory, following a 22-year career at Goldman Sachs in its global investment banking business.

    “We’re pleased to reappoint Mr Pepper to the Board,” says Professor Quigley. “His financial and governance experience continues to add valuable insight to the RBNZ’s decision-making.”

    The Reserve Bank welcomes the contributions of both Mr Spencer and Mr Pepper to its governing Board and looks forward to their support in delivering on Te Pūtea Matua’s strategic objectives.

    More information

    Our Board members – Reserve Bank of New Zealand – Te Pūtea Matua: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=886fb7c291&e=f3c68946f8

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • Indian stock market opens higher, IT stocks shine

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Wednesday amid positive global cues, with buying seen in the IT and auto sectors during early trade.

    At around 9:23 am, the Sensex was trading 225.5 points or 0.27 per cent higher at 83,922.79, while the Nifty added 58.75 points or 0.23 per cent to reach 25,600.55.

    According to analysts, after breaking out of the 24,500–25,000 range, the Nifty has moved into a new range of 25,200–25,800.

    Positive news about a possible trade deal between India and the US could help the index break the upper limit of this range, but sustaining the Nifty at higher levels may prove challenging, they added.

    Nifty Bank was down 45.20 points or 0.08 per cent at 57,414.25 in early trade. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 59,809.25 after gaining 59.20 points or 0.25 per cent. The Nifty Smallcap 100 index was at 19,082.10 after rising 26.40 points or 0.14 per cent.

    “The charts of Bank Nifty indicate that it may find support at 57,300, followed by 57,000 and 56,800. If the index advances further, 57,650 would be the initial key resistance, followed by 57,800 and 58,000,” said Hardik Matalia, Derivatives Analyst at Choice Broking.

    In the Sensex pack, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, ICICI Bank, TCS, Tata Steel, Bharti Airtel, HCL Tech and Adani Ports were the top gainers. Asian Paints, HDFC Bank, BEL and Eternal were among the top losers.

    Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) extended their selling on July 1, offloading equities worth Rs 1,970.14 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) continued their buying, purchasing equities worth Rs 771.08 crore on the same day.

    In Asian markets, Bangkok, China, Japan, Seoul and Jakarta were trading in the red, while only Hong Kong was trading in the green.

    In the previous trading session, the Dow Jones in the US closed at 44,494.94, up 400.17 points or 0.91 per cent. The S&P 500 ended with a loss of 6.90 points or 0.11 per cent at 6,198.05, while the Nasdaq closed at 20,202.89, down 166.85 points or 0.82 per cent.

    –IANS

  • ‘Looking forward to interacting with world leaders’, PM Modi embarks on historic 5-nation tour

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister on Wednesday departed on a week-long visit to five countries — Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia — with an aim to deepen India’s ties across the Global South and expand partnerships in key sectors including trade, investment, energy and capacity building.

    In the first leg of the visit, the Prime Minister will be in Ghana from July 2 to 3 at the invitation of President John Dramani Mahama. Describing Ghana as a valued partner in the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Prime Minister said discussions would focus on strengthening historical ties and exploring new avenues of cooperation in investment, energy, health, security and development partnership. He will also address the Parliament of Ghana during the visit.

    On July 3-4, the Prime Minister will visit Trinidad & Tobago, marking a significant moment in India’s relations with the Caribbean nation. He will meet President Christine Carla Kangaloo, who was the Chief Guest at this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who recently began her second term in office. Highlighting the shared cultural and historical bonds, the Prime Minister noted that the visit coincides with the 180th anniversary of the arrival of the first Indians in Trinidad & Tobago and would help rejuvenate the special ties of ancestry and kinship.

    The Prime Minister will then travel to Argentina, marking the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the South American nation in 57 years. In Buenos Aires, he will hold talks with President Javier Milei. Discussions are expected to focus on expanding cooperation in agriculture, critical minerals, energy, trade, tourism, technology and investment. Argentina is one of India’s key partners in Latin America and an important collaborator in the G20.

    The Prime Minister will participate in the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7. As a founding member, India remains committed to BRICS as a platform for strengthening cooperation among emerging economies. On the sidelines of the summit, the Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders. He will subsequently travel to Brasilia for a bilateral State Visit — the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Brazil in nearly six decades — to hold discussions with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on advancing common priorities for the Global South.

    In the final leg of the tour, the Prime Minister will visit Namibia, underscoring the shared history of struggle against colonialism between the two nations. He will hold talks with President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to chart a new roadmap for cooperation in diverse areas. He is also scheduled to address the Joint Session of the Namibian Parliament to mark the enduring solidarity between India and Namibia.

    Expressing confidence ahead of his departure, the Prime Minister said the visit will reinforce India’s bonds of friendship across the Global South, strengthen partnerships across the Atlantic, and deepen engagement with multilateral forums such as BRICS, the African Union, ECOWAS and CARICOM.

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN receives President of ERIA

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received the President of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Prof. Tetsuya Watanabe, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ ASEAN Secretariat, to discuss the continued ASEAN–ERIA collaboration in implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans.
     
    The meeting underscored the outcomes of the recent 18th ERIA Governing Board Meeting and ERIA’s contributions to ASEAN’s strategic priorities, particularly in areas such as supply chain resilience, digital transformation, and energy transition. Dr. Kao also acknowledged ERIA’s growing role in capacity-building efforts for the ASEAN Member States and noted the importance of continued support to sustain and deepen collaborative initiatives.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN receives President of ERIA appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • Quad ministerial meeting very productive, will strengthen Indo-Pacific stability: EAM Jaishankar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the Quad ministerial meeting on Tuesday was very productive and will strengthen stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

    After the meeting, he shared on X that they “discussed how to make Quad more focused and impactful on contemporary opportunities and challenges”.

    “Just finished a very productive meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers in Washington DC. Discussed how to make Quad more focused and impactful on contemporary opportunities and challenges. Today’s gathering will strengthen strategic stability in the Indo – Pacific and keep it free and open,” he said about the meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Foreign Ministers Penny Wong of Australia and Takeshi Iwaya of Japan, representing the major democracies in the region.

    Before the meeting, he said, “India has every right to defend its people against terrorism, and we will exercise that right. We expect our Quad partners to understand and appreciate that”.

    Rubio, who hosted the meeting, said, “There are many global problems, but also problems that we face in our respective countries that can be solved by us cooperating together”.

    He said that he has met Jaishankar “a number of times now in just six months on the job”.

    “I was just telling how much he travels. I follow the news, and every time I see (he is) somewhere else in the world. So he’s been very busy,” he said.

    Rubio said the other Quad nations “are very important strategic partners and allies of the United States, and together, we have a lot of shared priorities, a lot of things we care about in the world”.

    The Quad is not only about security but also about economic development, he said.

    He said that he had “personally been very focused on diversifying the global supply chain of critical minerals, not just access to the raw material, but also access to the ability to process and refine it to usable material”.

    “Having a diverse and reliable global supply chain of these is just one example of many that we can focus on and build upon and achieve some real progress on,” he said. “So that’s the hope for this partnership”.

    Rubio said a challenge was to turn meetings “where we talk about ideas and concepts into a vehicle for action, into a vehicle for actually being able to take concrete actions”.

    “The next step in this great partnership is to actually begin to see concrete actions and steps being taken in conjunction with one another, in coordination with one another, in partnership with one another for the benefit of our respective countries, and ultimately of many other countries in the world,” he said.

    “There are many countries that are going to benefit from this partnership, even though they’re not members of it,” he added.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Quad ministers demand bringing Pahalgam terrorists to justice, renew commitment to counterterrorism

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Renewing their commitment to work together to fight terrorism, the Quad foreign ministers on Tuesday demanded that all those responsible for the “reprehensible” Pahalgam terror attack be immediately brought to justice and countries concerned cooperate with the authorities.

    In a joint statement after their meeting on Tuesday, they said, “We call for the perpetrators, organisers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay and urge all UN Member States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant UNSCRs (Security Council Resolutions), to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard.”

    “The Quad unequivocally condemns all acts of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and renews our commitment to counterterrorism cooperation,” the statement said.

    External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Foreign Ministers Penny Wong of Australia and Takeshi Iwaya of Japan representing the major democracies of the Indo-Pacific region met for their second ministerial meeting of the year.

    They said, “We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, while injuring several others. We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and extend our heartfelt wishes for a swift and full recovery to all those injured.”

    The statement did not name any country while calling for bringing the perpetrators of the massacre to justice, but the nation was obvious because The Resistance Front, which carried out the attack, is an arm of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is sheltered by Pakistan.

    Before the ministers met, Jaishankar said, “India has every right to defend its people against terrorism, and we will exercise that right.”

    “We expect our quad partners to understand and appreciate that,” he emphasised.

    The top diplomats said they looked forward to the Quad summit to be hosted later this year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which will be attended by US President Donald Trump and Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese of Australia and Shigeru Ishiba of Japan.

    The ministers said that they “plan to launch the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership in Mumbai this year.”

    “To ensure the Quad’s enduring impact, we are pleased to announce today a new, ambitious, and strong agenda focused on four key areas: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technology, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response. Through this renewed focus, we will sharpen the Quad’s ability to leverage our resources to address the region’s most pressing challenges,” the ministers added.

    The four areas are maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technology, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response.

    While their joint statement repeatedly spoke of threats to countries in the region from the use of force and coercion by China, they did not name it.

    “We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea. We reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion. We express our serious concerns regarding dangerous and provocative actions, including interference with offshore resource development, the repeated obstruction of the freedoms of navigation and overflight, and the dangerous maneuvers by military aircraft and coast guard and maritime militia vessels, especially the unsafe use of water cannons and ramming or blocking actions in the South China Sea,” said the joint statement.

    While China was not mentioned, it had carried out all those actions against the Philippines, Vietnam, and South Korea, and it has been involved in disputes with Malaysia over offshore oil drilling.

    “These actions threaten peace and stability in the region”, they said. “We are seriously concerned by the militarisation of disputed features.”

    The ministers expressed concern over the disruptions to the supply chain, particularly of critical minerals and said it was important to diversify supplies.

    They announced a concrete measure to deal with this problem: “We are launching today the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, an ambitious expansion of our partnership to strengthen economic security and collective resilience by collaborating to secure and diversify critical minerals supply chains.”

    To strengthen the Quad’s ability to carry out relief in natural disasters – a mission that gave initial shape to the group – the ministers said they plan to host the first Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network field training exercise this year.

    It aims “to strengthen shared airlift capacity and leverage our collective logistics strengths to respond to natural disasters more rapidly and efficiently, providing support for regional partners,” the statement said.

    They condemned North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons programmes and demanded that it follow United Nations Security Council resolutions and end them.

    They also expressed “grave concern over North Korea’s malicious cyber activity, including cryptocurrency theft and use of workers abroad to fund North Korea’s unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.”

    Pyongyang has sent its citizens to fight on behalf of Russia in Ukraine.

    Closer to home, the ministers said they were “deeply concerned by the worsening crisis in Myanmar and its impact on the region.”

    They called on the military regime and all groups involved “to implement, extend and broaden ceasefire measures.”

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ1: Sustainable development of intangible cultural heritage

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         â€‹Following is a question by the Hon Stanley Ng and a reply by the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):
     
    Question:
     
         There are views that the first Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Month held last month enabled members of the public and tourists to experience the vitality and charm of Hong Kong’s ICH, and that transmitting ICH skills and the economic benefits brought about by the related cultural and creative intellectual property rights (IP) are conducive to the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s ICH. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the number of participants or visitors to the various activities of the first Hong Kong ICH Month, and the proportion of travellers among them; whether an assessment has been conducted on the effectiveness of Hong Kong ICH Month;
     
    (2) as it has been reported that the Government will announce a system for designating Hong Kong ICH bearers this year, whether the system will cover designation for both categories of bearer and bearer organisation; whether a mechanism will be established to revoke the status of bearers, ensuring that ICH remains vibrant and relevant over time, as well as maintaining the vitality of the transmission system and the enthusiasm of bearers; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (3) as it is learnt that the rapid development of IP of ICH in the Mainland has generated considerable economic benefits, of the mechanism put in place by the Government to regularly follow up on, incubate, support, protect and compile statistics on cultural and creative IP projects derived from Hong Kong’s ICH, so that they can sustainably create cultural value and economic benefits?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) is an essential part of the fine traditional Chinese culture, and a lively witness to the continuous transmission of Chinese culture. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are committed to safeguarding, transmitting and promoting the ICH of Hong Kong, while actively supporting the national policies on furthering the safeguarding of ICH and implementing enhanced measures. Targeting ICH items across various domains, different aspects of work such as identification, documentation, research, preservation, promotion and transmission of ICH are strengthened to enhance the public’s understanding of ICH and engage the community in safeguarding ICH. The above work includes the ICH Funding Scheme of the LCSD, which supports eligible local organisations and individuals in implementing meaningful local ICH projects. In addition, the LCSD released in December 2024 the updated Representative List of the ICH of Hong Kong (Representative List), with an increase in its number of items from 20 to 24, and the updated ICH Inventory of Hong Kong, with an increase in its number of items from 480 to 507.
          
         The 2024 Policy Address proposed two measures to promote the safeguarding and transmission of ICH, whereby the LCSD will develop a mechanism and criteria in 2025 for recognising the bearers of the items on the Representative List, as well as organise the Hong Kong ICH Month in June every year.
          
         In response to the Hon Stanley Ng’s three-part question, my replies are as follows:
     
    (1) The inaugural Hong Kong ICH Month was successfully held from May 31 to July 1, 2025. Activities include over 80 ICH performances, 60 interactive experiential booths on ICH and 24 field trips under “ICH Highlight Tours”, covering more than 100 ICH items. By invitation of the LCSD, over 20 community organisations participated in organising activities during the Hong Kong ICH Month so as to expand the coverage of the event and extend its reach in the community. 
     
         With the attendance of the activities of the inaugural Hong Kong ICH Month already surpassing 85 000 as at June 21, 2025, the final total attendance of the event is estimated to be more than 100 000. Despite the unavailability of figures on the percentage of visitors, since the tourist-filled Piazza of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui was chosen as the venue of the opening ceremony and the ensuing ICH carnival of the inaugural Hong Kong ICH Month, and both activities fell on the Mainland’s long weekend holiday in celebration of the Tuen Ng Festival, many visitors were attracted to the ICH carnival. Among others, around one-third of the “ICH Highlight Tours” quotas were given to visitors, and their feedback was very positive. The LCSD will continue to make efforts in this area in the future to enhance the integration of culture and tourism. A breakdown of the attendance of the Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 by activity is set out at Annex.
          
         The inaugural Hong Kong ICH Month successfully enriched the public’s understanding of the ICH items of both Hong Kong and the Mainland. Through the collaboration between the Government and community organisations, as well as the active participation of local and Mainland ICH organisations and practitioners, the public and visitors were provided with an experience of “ICH Around Town”.

    (2) The LCSD has studied the national guidelines for the recognition and management of ICH bearers. It has also completed its collection of and gained insight into relevant information on the planning, formulation and implementation of the mechanism for recognising ICH bearers or bearer organisations, the management system and the cancellation mechanism for the recognised ICH bearers or bearer organisations, etc in Guangdong Province, Macao and other neighbouring regions. Currently, the national guidelines include a cancellation mechanism, while Guangdong and Macao also have their own relevant cancellation mechanisms. The LCSD will take into account the aforementioned information and consider the current transmission of Hong Kong’s ICH to prepare a proposal that is in accord with the actual situation of Hong Kong. The proposal will cover the requirements for applicants for the status of ICH bearer or bearer organisation to follow, the mechanism and criteria for recognition, as well as a cancellation mechanism where applicable. The LCSD will consult the ICH Advisory Committee on the draft proposal to ensure that a set of stringent recognition mechanism and criteria suitable for Hong Kong is formulated to effectively recognise high-quality bearers or bearer organisations that are committed to transmitting ICH, thereby enhancing the protection and transmission of Hong Kong’s ICH. The mechanism and criteria are expected to be promulgated within this year.

    (3) As regards intellectual property based on ICH, the ICH Office has actively assisted cultural and creative industry brands in Hong Kong in launching creative cultural merchandise in recent years. For example, it has co-operated with a local fashion brand since 2024 to present Hong Kong’s ICH elements in a novel way to bring fashion lovers a series of new-style cheongsams that revitalise traditions, and clothing created with ICH elements. In addition to a publicity and promotional campaign launched in Hong Kong, fashion shows were organised in places outside of Hong Kong, such as London, Shanghai and Shenzhen, to showcase Hong Kong’s ICH. The ICH Office will continue to provide information on ICH for suitable cultural and creative industry brands to assist them in transforming ICH into value-‍added cultural and creative products through revitalisation.

         Furthermore, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the CSTB, through the CreateSmart Initiative, provides funding support and drives to foster cross-sectoral collaboration between local cultural and creative industries and ICH bearers, promote Hong Kong’s ICH at cultural and creative exhibitions and events staged in Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas, and support Hong Kong designers to create cultural and creative products themed on ICH. These collaborations promote the ICH of Hong Kong, as well as facilitate the development of cultural and creative sectors as industries. Examples include the “Palace Museum Collections x Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage” Exhibition held during the Shenzhen Reading Month in November 2024 and the Hong Kong Reading Week in April 2025, the Hong Kong Pavilion themed “Strolling through Hong Kong: Intangible Cultural Heritage and Urban Memories” set up at Beijing International Book Fair in June 2025, and the Hong Kong’s ICH-themed new art toys created by Hong Kong original art toy designers to be showcased in the “Hong Kong Art Toy Story 2025@Kuala Lumpur” in November 2025.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ22: Development of “Zero Waste Bay Area”

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ22: Development of “Zero Waste Bay Area” 
    Question:
     
         It is learnt that the Government is exploring with other Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to take forward the development of “Zero Waste Bay Area”, and that Guangdong and Hong Kong will tackle waste management issues through regional strategies and enhance regional recycling of recyclable materials in the GBA by leveraging each other’s competitive advantages and complementing strengths. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the specific work directions and strategies of the Special Panel for Building “Zero Waste Bay Area” established by the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong in January this year, and the latest progress of its work;
     
    (2) given the opportunities arising from the “Zero Waste Bay Area”, how will the Government capitalise on Hong Kong’s advantage of connecting the country with the world to facilitate the development of green industries and a circular economy in the GBA, and whether it has assessed the difficulties and challenges that may arise in the process; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (3) whether the HKSAR Government has started to explore the arrangements for the cross-boundary transportation of waste to other Mainland cities in the GBA, such as the mode of transport (i.e. sea or land) and daily handling capacity; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,

    (1) According to the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Ecological Environmental Protection Plan” promulgated by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government continuously works with the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to develop a “Zero Waste Bay Area” and explore regional co-operation models for achieving “Zero Waste City”. The Special Panel for Building “Zero Waste Bay Area” (the Special Panel) was established by Guangdong and Hong Kong at the Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Environmental Protection and Combating Climate Change meeting held in January this year, serving as a standing mechanism for advancing solid waste management and resources circulation co-operation between the two places, thereby strengthening policy co-ordination, technical exchanges and project collaboration, as well as elevating the capability in jointly handling solid waste.
     
         The first meeting of the Special Panel, held on March 27 this year, was co-chaired by the Environmental Protection Department of the HKSAR Government and the Department of Ecology and Environment of Guangdong Province. It mainly focused on exploring strategies leveraging on the complementary advantages of the region, to promote resources circulation of recyclable materials in the GBA and foster collaborative development of green industries and related facilities through deepening the collaboration by a joint “project-based” model. At present, the Special Panel has commenced initial discussions on topics such as regional co-operation in resources circulation and waste management policy, and is actively discussing how to promote the co-ordination of regulations and market integration between the two places.
     
    (2) and (3) The co-operation direction with the Mainland cities of the GBA is to promote resources circulation through the joint development of “Zero Waste City”, instead of transferring the municipal solid waste (MSW) to the Mainland cities of the GBA for treatment.
     
         Under the co-operation framework of the Special Panel, Hong Kong will fully capitalise on our distinctive advantage of having strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world to further deepen the co-operation with other Mainland cities of the GBA in areas such as developing a “Zero Waste City” and promoting resources circulation. Hong Kong will introduce advanced recycling technologies and large-scale industrial expertise from the Mainland on one hand; and integrate its international market environment with its mature environmental management system to jointly explore the development pathway of a regional circular economy on the other. For example, the paper pulping facility and the retired electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling facility currently under construction in EcoPark, Tuen Mun, both incorporate mature Mainland technologies to process local waste paper and retired EV batteries. This not only strengthens Hong Kong’s role in the regional green industry chain, but also fosters collaborative development of green technologies and mutually beneficial co-operation in the environmental industry of the GBA.
     
         As for the local treatment of MSW in Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government is pressing ahead with the development of a network of advanced and highly efficient modern waste-to-energy facilities. The first modern incineration facility for treating MSW currently under construction near Shek Kwu Chau, I∙PARK1, will commence operation within this year. In addition, the HKSAR Government is pushing forward the development of I∙PARK2 at full steam. The open tender for the project was invited in last December and will close on July 18 this year. We will seek funding from the Legislative Council for the project in a timely manner.
    Issued at HKT 12:25

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What are working with children checks? Why aren’t they keeping kids safe at daycare?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rosemary Sheehan, Professor of Social Work, Monash University

    Catherine Falls Commercial/ Getty Images

    Disturbing allegations have emerged about a Melbourne childcare worker, who has been charged with more than 70 offences, including sexual assault and producing child abuse material.

    Health authorities have urged about 1,200 children to get screening for potential infection.

    The man who has been charged, Joshua Dale Brown, had a valid working with children check.

    What is a working with children check? And how can they be reformed to keep children safe in the wake of yet more claims of abuse in childcare centres?



    Read more:
    Parents of kids in daycare are terrified following Melbourne abuse allegations. What can they do?

    Working with children checks

    Working with children checks are done on a state-by-state basis, but every jurisdiction approaches it in much the same way.

    In Victoria, it involves a simple application and proof of identity. There is no cost if it is for a voluntary position (for example, coaching your child’s soccer team) and a small fee if you are doing it as paid work (for example, as an early childhood educator or school teacher).

    It will then look at:

    • your criminal record in all Australian states and territories, including any charges, regardless of the outcome

    • your professional conduct as determined by groups such as the state’s institute of teaching

    • whether you’re required to report under sex offender legislation.

    But does it work?

    Regulation of the working with children check system is poor. Once you get your card, it lasts five years. There are no interim measures to check whether an offence has emerged in the meantime. So people can be flying under the radar.

    There is also a high threshold for issues to come to the surface. It might be possible for someone to have complaints made against them, that don’t reach the level of charges laid. These would not necessarily show up in a police check.

    On Wednesday, federal Education Minister Jason Clare said governments were working to improve information sharing between states “when there’s changes to people’s criminal history”.

    He also suggested there should be a national register of early childhood educators: “there’s a register for teachers; there’s not a register for educators in centres”.

    In 2015, the royal commission into child abuse did a specific report on working with children checks. It cautioned against an over-reliance on the checks. The report noted they can “provide a false sense of comfort to parents and communities”, who may believe people who have undergone the checks do not pose any risk to children.



    Read more:
    There’s a new ban on vaping in childcare centres, but what else do we need to keep kids safe?

    Employment history is important

    We need to have more checks in place beyond the police system.

    As the child abuse royal commission also noted in 2015, working with children checks are an “important tool” but only one component of making organisations safe for children.

    Employers must exercise due diligence in hiring staff, checking with previous employers, asking about staff performance, and ensuring proper staff supervision.

    According to the Victorian government, Brown worked at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne between January 2017 and May 2025. Some of this was casual work.

    This type of employment history – where someone has cycled through many employers – may be a red flag.

    If someone has such a fragmented employment history, it is difficult to check they can perform properly and appropriately in a role. It also goes against childcare wellbeing standards, which prioritise stability and continuity of care.

    How many staff are around?

    Supervision of staff is also important to keep children safe.

    There are set ratios for educators and children in childcare, depending on the ages of the children.

    But this may vary, depending on where children are in a centre. For example, does a child need particular help with toileting or have they had an accident or need first aid?

    Staff also need certain levels of qualifications to work in childcare centres. But there can be waivers if an individual is “actively working towards qualification” – so they may not have completed a formal childcare training certificate yet.

    We also need to make sure there is compulsory ongoing training for staff so they stay on top of best practice in terms of safety as well as education and care.

    The bigger question

    On Wednesday, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen announced an urgent review into child safety.

    There are also growing calls for a national inquiry into childcare, including from National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds.

    She told the ABC, “child safety and wellbeing is not a priority in this country”.

    Any inquiry would need to look at the systemic factors that shape the provision of childcare as well as what checks and balances need to be in place.

    Brown worked at centres run by two major private childcare chains: Affinity Education and G8 Education. Both say they followed the required security protocols.

    About 70% of daycare centres in Australia are run by for-profit services, which on average employ fewer qualified staff and are rated lower by the national quality system. We need to closely examine why an essential social service to vulnerable people can be provided for private profit.

    The Victorian government has set up a dedicated website and advice line for parents whose children may have been involved in the alleged offences.

    If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, you can call 1800 Respect on 1800 737 732, Lifeline on 131 114, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts (counselling and support for survivors of child sexual abuse) on 1800 272 831.

    Rosemary Sheehan receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She is chair of Pathways Response Victoria, an organisation which receives complaints of abuse by officers of the Catholic Church.

    – ref. What are working with children checks? Why aren’t they keeping kids safe at daycare? – https://theconversation.com/what-are-working-with-children-checks-why-arent-they-keeping-kids-safe-at-daycare-260209

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Palestinian Occupied Territories – Five months of forced displacement and escalating humanitarian needs amid advancing annexation in the West Bank – MSF

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

    2 July, Jerusalem – More than 40,000 people in the northern West Bank remain forcibly displaced, cut off from their homes and left with very limited access to basic services and healthcare five months after the launch of the Israeli military operation ‘Iron Wall’. 

    This large-scale military campaign has seen Israeli forces raid and violently empty well-established refugee camps in northern West Bank. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warns that people are facing deteriorating health and living conditions, as the Israeli forces are still causing widespread destruction, and occupying the three refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams – preventing any return and barring access.

    “After five months, the military operation continues. The camps remain sealed off, with Israeli soldiers actively preventing anyone from entering. Families are still in limbo, and we’re worried that humanitarian needs will keep escalating,” says Simona Onidi, MSF project coordinator in Jenin and Tulkarem.

    To mark this grim milestone, MSF is releasing a new advocacy briefing note, Five Months Under Iron Wall, highlighting the human toll of prolonged displacement in the West Bank. The note draws on MSF’s field presence, operational data, and nearly 300 interviews conducted in mid-May across 17 locations where MSF works in northern West Bank, with forcibly displaced refugees from the three camps.

    Findings show that displacement-affected communities face growing instability and unmet needs such as access to healthcare and to regular food and water. Nearly half of the people spoken to have been forcibly displaced three or more times in four months, while nearly three out of four are unsure if they can stay where they currently are. Over a third report feeling unsafe where they currently reside. Mental health needs are also mounting, especially among women and children, as repeated displacement, uncertainty, and being violently displaced compound distress.

    “We live in a constant state of fear. Israeli forces frequently patrol the area near where I’m staying. My family and I keep our bags packed at all times, ready to flee if we’re displaced again.” – Displaced woman from Nur Shams Refugee Camp.

    MSF’s findings also reveal a disturbing pattern of violence and obstruction targeting displaced residents attempting to return to their homes in the camps, with over 100 incidents of indiscriminate violence reported. This includes shootings, assault, and detentions and is affecting people of all ages and genders. Some families found their homes burned, looted, or occupied; others were explicitly threatened and told never to come back. Returns are heavily restricted, with only limited time granted or access denied altogether.

    “When I came back to my home in the camp, it had been burned down — and my neighbour had been killed.” – Displaced man from Tulkarem Refugee Camp.

    One in three people could not reach a doctor when needed – mainly due to cost, distance, or lack of transport. Nearly half spoken to report inconsistent access to food and water, and 35 per cent of those with chronic illnesses are unable to get regular medication.

    In response to the unfolding crisis, MSF set up mobile medical teams which run in more than 40 public sites, displacement shelters in Jenin and Tulkarem and basic health care centres run by Ministry of Health facilities, offering basic health care services as well as mental health support and health promotion activities.

    The Iron Wall military operation is neither the beginning nor the end of the violence endured by Palestinians in the West Bank. This latest escalation comes on top of an already dire situation that has been steadily deteriorating, particularly since October 2023. As MSF’s February 2025 report Inflicting Harm and Denying Care shows, the West Bank has long been the site of repeated violations against civilians and medical organisations, and the current humanitarian crisis in the northern governorates cannot be understood in isolation from the broader context of coercive, violent measures and annexation.

    “What we’re seeing in the northern West Bank is not just a humanitarian emergency; it’s a man-made crisis, prolonged by design, and worsening by the day,” says Simona Onidi. “Humanitarian assistance is insufficient and inconsistent, organisations must step up their response to provide people with shelter, medical care, mental health support, and protection. We also call for an end to the Israeli military operations and lethal use of force, leading to death and injuries, and for displaced communities to be allowed to return safely and with dignity”.

     

    “Five Months Under Iron Wall: The Human Toll of Prolonged Displacement & Territorial Fragmentation in the West Bank” ( https://www.msf.org/sites/default/files/2025-07/202506_Briefing_Note_Iron_Wall_5_Months_After%201.pdf )

     

    MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: UN report highlights urgent financing solutions to achieve the SDGs in Asia and the Pacific

    Source: United Nations – ESCAP

    A new report from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) offers over 40 innovative and actionable strategies for countries in the region to close the development financing gap. This comes as financial and geopolitical pressures across the region threaten to further derail progress on poverty reduction, climate action and economic recovery.

    Developing countries globally now face an annual shortfall of between US$2.5 trillion and US$4 trillion to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. Without major improvements in the way development is financed, many countries in the region risk falling further behind.

    The sixth edition of ESCAP’s Financing for Development report points to longstanding weaknesses in public finance and private investment systems. Many governments in the region continue to face difficulties in raising domestic revenues at the scale needed. Tax structures remain inefficient, and opportunities to tap into wealth and real estate are often underused. At the same time, capital markets are underdeveloped, and private financing rarely reaches high-impact sectors such as clean energy, healthcare or affordable housing.

    “Nowhere is this challenge – and opportunity – more urgent than in Asia and the Pacific,” underscored Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP. She added, “This is our chance to build a more resilient, equitable and sustainable economy for all. We aim to foster solutions that are regionally grounded, technically sound and financially viable. Unless Asia and the Pacific can lead boldly, the global transition will fall short of expectations.”

    Public debt distress has also become a growing concern. The report calls for more responsible borrowing, better transparency in how public funds are used, and stronger coordination among creditors to ensure fair and effective debt resolution.

    The report further recomm

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Energy Sector – Unison brings kids’ electrical safety education online: Free for families everywhere

    Source: Unison Networks

    Local lines company, Unison Networks (Unison) is raising the bar for electrical safety education by launching its Digital Safe Sparks Programme to families across Hawke’s Bay, Taupō and Rotorua, making it easier than ever for children to learn how to stay safe around electricity.

    For over 20 years, Unison’s Safe Sparks Programme has been delivered in schools through a two-part, indoor and outdoor session. While these visits will continue across Unison’s electricity network regions, the company recognises it can only reach a limited number of classrooms each year. The new online version removes that barrier, offering any child, anywhere, anytime the chance to take part.

    The programme covers topics such as identifying electricity in the home, understanding how it is made, and developing practical safety skills. It also includes important information on Unison’s electrical equipment in the community, such as power poles, lines and boxes.

    Unison Group General Manager People, Safety and Culture, Rachel Masters highlighted the importance of extending the programme’s reach.

    “Keeping our communities and tamariki safe around electricity is at the heart of everything we do.

    “By taking Safe Sparks digital, we’re giving every whānau the opportunity to learn together, whether at home, at after school care, or during the school holidays. It’s about building a safer future, one child at a time,” Mrs Masters said.

    Designed for children aged 5 to 11, the interactive online experience features short, animated videos, real-life safety tips, and activities that help children understand how electricity works and how to stay safe, especially near Unison’s equipment like power poles, lines and boxes.

    Unison has delivered its In-person Safe Sparks Programme to thousands of students across its electricity network regions since 2003. The digital version, launched to schools in 2024, has now been extended to include families, after school care providers and holiday programmes.

    To celebrate the community rollout, Unison is offering spot prizes for those who complete the programme and submit the short form at the end. Three lucky participants will win $100 Prezzy Cards, with entries closing on 31 October 2025.

    “It’s a great school holiday activity, or something to do on a rainy weekend. The whole programme takes just 15 to 20 minutes, but the learning lasts a lifetime.

    “There’s no login required, it’s completely free, and families can download a personalised certificate at the end. It’s a fun and meaningful activity to do together,” Mrs Masters said.

    Unison encourages parents, caregivers, schools, holiday programmes and after school care providers to explore the resource and share it widely.

     

    Start the challenge today at: www.unison.co.nz/safe-sparks-digital.

    Notes:


    Unison Networks is New Zealand’s fifth largest electricity network, supplying over 119,000 customers across Hawke’s Bay, Taupō and Rotorua.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health Sector – General practice amazed at Government’s cash splurge on telehealth – Genaro

    Source: General Practice Owners Association (GenPro)

    The General Practice Owners Association is calling foul at the huge difference between government funding for screen-based telehealth compared to face-to-face visits to community doctors.

    “General practice is amazed at the extravagant payments to a few telehealth providers during these cash-strapped times. And we’re stunned that the government won’t fund anywhere near these amounts to support general practices to see the same patients,” says Dr Angus Chambers, Chair of GenPro.

    “The scale of per-patient funding indicates clear favouritism for telehealth providers. Questions must be asked about whether telehealth is good use of public money when general practices are funded at lower rates for a superior standard of patient service.

    “We’re asking health officials for the reasoning behind the funding difference in favour of screen-based appointments, which tend to be easier and quicker consultations, over a family doctor who examines patients more thoroughly.”

    Ironically a telehealth consultation often results in a recommendation to visit a general practitioner for a more thorough examination, Dr Chambers says.

    “We’re stunned that telehealth providers will receive:

    $65 for seeing after hours a 14-year-old whose caregiver has a community services card, while general practice receives $20.45.
    $65 for seeing after hours an adult with a community service card, while general practice will receive $15.33.
    $95 for seeing a 13-year-old whose caregiver has a community services card, while general practice receives $20.45.

    “While GenPro welcomed the recent increased funding for general practice, it’s important to emphasise that this boost was only for enrolled patients. This new telehealth service is for non-enrolled patients or those seeking care when their regular doctor cannot see them – which is a service many GPs also provide.

    “This is an important distinction as the huge advantage for telehealth will significantly undermine the sustainability of general practice.

    “Telehealth may be the only choice for remote rural areas where it is extremely hard to access a GP, or for those that are not enrolled in a practice, but it is risky to make it the first option for all.

    This Government’s $165 million investment in large corporations and primary health organisations, instead of front-line GP services, comes despite international evidence that telehealth is ineffective at solving  problems in the health system.

    “Evidence from the UK showed that telehealth did nothing to reduce emergency department attendance rates, time to cancer diagnosis, or to see a specialist. Telehealth might be convenient, but is it best for patients?

    “It seems that Health New Zealand believes that it is, as shown by this disproportionate funding,” Dr Chambers says.

    GenPro members are owners and providers of general practices and urgent care centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information visit  www.genpro.org.nz
     
     

    Comparison of government funding of patients seeing screen-based telehealth providers versus face-to-face appointment at general practices
    Below is a comparison of the subsidies for either discipline to see a casual patient (not enrolled with the service provider). Noting that the Telehealth fees are capped.
     

    Age of patient                                     GP subsidy                                                T/health subsidy Difference 
    U6 BH CSC $35.78 U6 BH CSC $75.00 110%
    U6 AH CSC $35.78* U6 AH CSC $95.00 166%
    U6 BH No CSC $35.78 U6 BH No CSC $55.00 54%
    U6 AH No CSC $35.78* U6 AH No CSC $65.00 82%
    6-13 BH CSC $20.45 6-13 BH CSC $75.00 267%
    6-13 AH CSC $20.45* 6-13 AH CSC $95.00 365%
    6-13 BH No CSC $15.33 6-13 BH No CSC $55.00 259%
    6-13 AH No CSC $15.33* 6-13 AH No CSC $65.00 324%
    14-17 BH CSC $20.45 14-17 BH CSC $55.00 169%
    14-17 AH CSC $20.45 14-17 AH CSC $65.00 219%
    14-17 BH No CSC $15.33 14-17 BH No CSC $25.00 63%
    14-17 AH No CSC $15.33 14-17 AH No CSC $35.00 128%
    18+ BH CSC $15.33 18+ BH CSC $55.00 259%
    18+ AH CSC $15.33 18+ AH CSC $65.00 324%
    18+ BH No CSC $0.00 18+ BH No CSC $2.00 Infinity
    18+ AH No CSC $0.00 18+ AH No CSC $12.00 Infinity

    All amounts include GST
    BH = Business hours 0800-2200
    AH After hours 2200-0800
    CSC Community Services card
    * Additional after-hours subsidies available with regional variation

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Dairy Sector – Guy Roper to Chair NZ Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ)

    Source: Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ)

    The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) has appointed Guy Roper as its Independent Chairman.
    Mr Roper takes up the position from Matt Bolger, who stepped down at the end of last year following his appointment to Fonterra’s senior management team.
    Mr Roper is an experienced director, with a strong background in the dairy industry.
    As Chief Executive of Port Taranaki for six years up until 2021, he played an important role in the supply chain that enables New Zealand’s dairy exports. Before this, he held a variety of roles in the dairy sector, including at Fonterra as Global Account Director for Nestlé and as Commercial Director of Global Trade and Ingredients, as well as a farmer-elected director of the former Kiwi Co-operative Dairies, one of the two co-operatives that merged to form Fonterra. He currently holds directorships of Fisher Funds Management and Port Nelson.
    As Independent Chair of DCANZ, Mr Roper will chair a governance group comprising CEO’s and executive leaders of 11 dairy companies that together account for more than 98% of the milk processed in New Zealand. These companies come together at DCANZ to work in the best interests of the dairy industry.
    “DCANZ is pleased to welcome Guy to this role,” says Brendhan Greaney, CEO of Tatua, speaking on behalf of the DCANZ Executive Committee.
    “His governance capabilities, combined with a wealth of relevant knowledge and experience from previous executive roles, and his general passion for improving New Zealand’s prosperity through trade, will be important assets for DCANZ.”
    Mr Roper says: “I am excited to have this opportunity to contribute to a sector that I believe in and identify with.
    “The dairy industry plays an important role in New Zealand, and the leadership of dairy companies matters, especially in challenging times”.
    DCANZ is focused on growing dairy trade opportunities. Not only does this mean bringing down trade barriers, it also includes ensuring dairy exports, which currently deliver 35% of New Zealand’s total goods trade earnings, continue to be supplied within efficient and globally respected food regulatory and biosecurity frameworks. DCANZ also works to maintain New Zealand’s reputation as a reliable supplier of top-quality, safe and sustainably produced dairy products.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Environment – Wildly inaccurate figures used to justify ‘Shane’s $200 million fossil fuel slush fund’ – Greenpeace

    Source: Greenpeace

    It has come to light that a Cabinet paper justifying the Government’s $200 million subsidy for new gas fields used wildly inflated and inaccurate gas price figures. Some were more than seven times higher than the true value.
    Greenpeace has called it a “complete debacle” and is calling for the Government to scrap what it calls “Shane’s $200m fossil fuel slush fund’’ immediately.
    “Minister Jones’ office has given Cabinet hugely incorrect figures on the gas industry, which were used to decide on the next steps for his $200 million fossil fuel slush fund,” says Greenpeace spokesperson Gen Toop.
    “The Government should pull that $200 million fossil fuel subsidy immediately and use the money to fund solar and other clean energy generation instead.”
    The paper, prepared by Minister Shane Jones’ office, claimed 2024 commercial gas prices rose by 58%, when the correct figure was just 8%. Residential gas was claimed to have increased by 17%, but the actual rise was only 3%. Industrial and wholesale prices were also around double the true values.
    A red comment made in the margins of the now-released paper reads: ‘There was an error in calculations… that was not identified before the material went to Cabinet.’
    “These figures aren’t just slightly out, they are wildly inaccurate. Either Minister Jones doesn’t understand the energy system, or he’s showing flagrant disregard for the facts,” says Toop. 
    “Either way, funnelling public money to fossil fuel corporations during the climate crisis is indefensible.”
    “Fossil fuels are polluting, finite and expensive. The Government should be backing affordable clean renewables like wind and solar that can actually secure our energy future.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SCST to visit France

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, will depart for France to visit Paris and Bordeaux in the early hours tomorrow (July 3) to enhance collaboration between Hong Kong and France in the areas of culture and tourism.
     
    During her stay in France, Miss Law will engage with French government officials and trade representatives of the wine industry to explore opportunities for co-operation and exchange. She will also visit museums and prominent tourist landmarks.
     
    Miss Law will depart for Hong Kong on July 9 (Wednesday). During her absence, the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, will be the Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Top honours for CFA led research team

    Source:

    A CFA research scientist and her team have won top honors at the inaugural Natural Hazards Research awards for their work in predictive fire mapping.

    The research award was presented to Dr Chloe Begg (CFA) and her team which is made up of personnel from three Australian universities and representatives from emergency management organisations from across the nation. 

    The project, funded by Natural Hazards Research Australia, is being led by CFA and the Victorian Department of Education and explores how predictive fire spread maps can assist the public in making decisions in emergency situations like bushfires.  

    The project was born after the 2019/2020 bushfire season when NSW and the ACT released “Red Maps” to the public but due to the number and scale of fires, there was a need identified to show the current and potential impact of them.  

    Dr Begg said fire spread predictions had already been used in Victoria, NSW, and the ACT but there is interest from other jurisdictions to use them in the future.  

    “The project provides an opportunity to use research and collaboration between fire agencies to ensure that the future use of these products is well considered and evidence-based,” she said.  

    Dr Chloe Begg said the team has conducted multiple studies with community members across Australia to understand what information Australian’s are looking for when using maps during an emergency.  

    “Predictive fire spread maps are different to existing warnings, such as those on platforms like VicEmergency,” she said.  

    “We are exploring how fire spread predictions can exist within the current warnings landscape to provide even more information on what is likely to happen to give people more time and context to make decisions about their safety.” 

    The research is already being used to inform fire agency practice.  

    “At the end of last year, Emergency Management Victoria asked us to provide guidance based on the research to support the creation of predictive fire spread maps,” Dr Begg said. 

    “This guidance was used to support the creation of maps that were published ahead of severe weather conditions forecasted for Boxing Day. ”  

    The next phase of community research focuses on testing a range of different designs to understand how best to present the maps with information that community members are looking for.  

    The team will continue to work together to ensure the research findings are useful and usable for all Australian fire agencies. The project is due to be completed by the end of 2026. 

    • An example of the mapping developed
    • An example of the mapping developed
    Submitted by CFA Media

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New Hope: Improving Livestock Business Models within and across Borders

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and New Hope Liuhe, a leading livestock enterprise in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), are working together to focused on sustainable agribusiness and environmental protection. The partnership promotes circular agriculture and improves the whole industrial chain. By expanding into new markets such as Viet Nam, New Hope has replicated innovations from the PRC to help preserve local workers’ and farmers’ livelihoods and strengthen food security.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Super blind spot: one in three Australians don’t know their super balance, one in nine have never checked – CBA

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

    New CommBank report reveals financial blind spots holding Australians back from greater financial confidence and joy, as free Financial Fitness program launches.

    Key findings from new CommBank Financial Fitness research:

    • Superannuation gaps: A third of Australians don’t know their super balance (33 per cent) and two thirds aren’t confident they’ll have enough to retire comfortably (63 per cent), with one in nine (11 per cent) having never checked their balance at all. Around one in three (31 per cent) don’t know how their super is invested, and this uncertainty jumps up for women and Gen Z (both 46 per cent).
    • Where there’s a will, there’s a way: Less than half (45 per cent) of Australians currently have a will and fewer than one in three (31 per cent) say theirs is up to date.
    • The art of budgeting: While over half have a budget (58 per cent), many Australians either find it ineffective (40 per cent) or simply struggle to stick to it (32 per cent). Among those who do budget, only 17 per cent use digital money management tools while 27 per cent use spreadsheets and 23 per cent figure it out ‘in their heads’.
    • Younger generations most financially stressed: Younger Australians are more likely to track their spending and have a plan to grow their money but still feel the most financially stressed (59 per cent) and least confident (42 per cent) compared with older generations, according to the CommBank Financial Fitness Report.
    • Goals being set, but hard to achieve: While almost all Australians say they have financial goals (95 per cent), only half feel confident they can achieve them (52 per cent) or that they can enjoy life because of the way they manage money (50 per cent). 

    Free CommBank Financial Fitness program launched to help

    CommBank has launched a free Financial Fitness program – a practical, expert-led initiative to help Australians build their financial knowledge and confidence. The curriculum covers topics such as ‘building your savings muscle’ and ‘stretching your money mindset’, with guidance on everything from creating an emergency fund to investing or buying a home.

    Drawing on behavioural insights such as ‘chunking’, the ‘fresh start effect’ and ‘social proofing’, the five part ‘actions-based’ Financial Fitness program is designed to help Australians improve both their Financial IQ and EQ. The program is available for free to all Australians – no matter who you bank with.

    Comments from CommBank Personal Finance Expert

    Jess Irvine, CommBank Personal Finance Expert, said: “Many Australians are doing their best, but still feel unsure about key parts of their finances – from how much super they have, to the best ways to budget. The truth is, being financially confident doesn’t mean having it all figured out. It means being informed, asking questions, and taking small steps forward.

    “That’s what our Financial Fitness program is about, because when you understand your money, you’re better placed to make decisions to shape your financial future. For some, it could be improving simple things – like sorting out a will or your super – to help protect your assets now and as they grow. For others, it might be a subtle money mindset shift to build better financial habits. No matter what stage of life you’re at, small actions can lead to greater confidence in your financial choices and the freedom to focus on what really matters to you.”

    Other insights from the research

    The research also highlights how our financial habits are changing with the current cost of living and as we get older, including:

    • Cost of living sparks a new generation of savvy shoppers: Australians say cost of living pressures have motivated them to look for ways to save money on everyday items (63 per cent), as well as using discounts and reward programs (60 per cent), spacing out or reducing regular appointments (43 per cent).
    • A problem shared is a problem halved: Almost half of the nation (47 per cent) avoid talking about their financial situation with loved ones, with 15 per cent of this cohort simply not knowing how to start the conversation. Other reasons include feeling uncomfortable (38 per cent), overwhelmed (23 per cent) or embarrassed (19 per cent). As we age, we get less embarrassed to talk about finances (26 per cent aged 18-29 years old versus 12 per cent aged 60+ years old).
    • Financial confidence is in reach: Almost two thirds of Australians (62 per cent) say there is at least one thing stopping them from becoming more financially confident, such as they don’t know where to start (23 per cent), the jargon is confusing (20 per cent) and they don’t have time to learn about money (13 per cent).

    Do you know how financially fit you are? Watch the video below to take this test and find out.

    Brighter Side of Banking

    The Financial Fitness program is the next evolution of CommBank’s Brighter Side of Banking, which already includes Brighter magazine, online content and a TV series, offering tips and inspiring stories on money management, cost-of-living support and financial confidence.

    With the Brighter TV content reaching more than 10 million across all platforms, 80 per cent of viewers say they took action and put into practice one learning after watching the show.

    For more information or to access the Financial Fitness lessons visit https://commbank.com.au/financialfitness.

    CommBank Financial Fitness Research commissioned March 2025, national representative sample of 3,146 respondents.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Strengthening scam protection: Introducing Confirmation of Payee – CBA

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

    In an important step towards enhancing protections against scams and fraud, most retail Australian banks are introducing a new security feature, Confirmation of Payee. This is how it will work alongside CommBank’s existing NameCheck capability, and what that means for CommBank customers, as well as other financial institutions who implement both.

    Key points:

    • This month, CommBank is launching Confirmation of Payee (CoP), an industry name-matching solution designed to help combat scams and mistaken payments.
    • CoP was developed by industry body Australian Payments Plus (AP+) and is being progressively rolled out by most Australian banks this year.
    • CommBank was the first Australian bank to previously introduce a capability on our digital banking platforms to provide an indication to retail and business customers if the payment details they enter on a first-time payment don’t look right.
    • CoP will work alongside CommBank’s security tool NameCheck and together, the two solutions will provide more information to CommBank customers to help them protect themselves against scams and mistaken payments.

    How it works

    CoP builds on New Payments Platform (NPP) infrastructure to match the name entered by the payee with the name held by the receiving bank, when sending a domestic payment via BSB and account number.

    Meanwhile, CommBank’s existing security tool NameCheck searches the account details customers have entered when making a first-time payment in NetBank, the CommBank app or CommBiz[1]. Based on CommBank’s available payment data, NameCheck will then indicate whether the account details look right, taking into account additional factors such as preferred names, nicknames, business trading names and risk activity indicators.

    NameCheck has already saved $650 million in prevented scams and mistaken payments for CommBank customers[2].

    Both NameCheck and CoP are designed to provide additional information to customers when making payments and, together, they help provide CommBank customers with additional protections against scams and mistaken payments.

    CBA will use NameCheck to enrich or augment CoP findings in some cases, for example where CoP data does not cover a given account but NameCheck does, or where NameCheck has well established name derivations that might enhance consumer experience.

    To bring to life how the two technologies will be stronger together, CommBank General Manager Payments Alison Chang used her dad, a Singaporean immigrant whose preferred name differs from his legal name, as the example.

    “My dad is a first-generation immigrant from Singapore. He goes by John*, but his legal name is very different. When someone transfers money into my dad’s account using his nickname rather than the legal name registered with CommBank as his financial institution, NameCheck will create a match based on available payment information and past transaction data, complementing CoP’s analysis of information captured under Know Your Customer obligations.”

    The combined technology will create safer yet seamless payment experiences and will use the same principle to provide information about payments being made to businesses.

    “Businesses often trade under names that vastly differ to those filed with the Australian Business Register. When CommBank retail and small business customers are paying an invoice via NetBank or CommBank app, CoP and NameCheck can help give them confidence that they have entered the BSB and account number correctly – making sure they send money to the right person.

    For CommBank customers, CoP and NameCheck are more powerful together, as NameCheck provides additional activity-based risk warnings, even if the account name matches.

    Why this matters

    Scam activity continues to present a significant threat to Australian consumers and businesses. According to Ms Chang, introducing CoP is part of a concerted effort by the banking sector to combating this threat.

    “Introducing Confirmation of Payee reflects CommBank’s active participation in an industry-wide push to make Australia less attractive to scammers. Over two years, CommBank has seen customer losses from scams drop by 70 per cent, however there is more work to do as scammers’ methods evolve”.

    “Our experience in supporting customers with NameCheck has allowed CBA to provide valuable insights during the industry discussions for the AP+ Confirmation of Payee solution. CommBank has an ongoing commitment to improving customer safety, and CoP will help empower customers to take greater control and help spot a scam before it happens,” Ms Chang added.

    As well as NameCheck, CoP complements CommBank’s other anti-scam measures, for example participation in the Australian Financial Crime Exchange (AFCX) Intelligence Loop and behavioural security technology.

    “We encourage customers to remain vigilant and take steps to protect themselves against scams by staying on top of scam tr

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ8: Safety and health at work in confined spaces

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Chau Siu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):
     
    Question:
     
         Regarding safety and health at work in confined spaces, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) given that the Code of Practice for Safety and Health at Work in Confined Spaces (CoP) was revised last year by adding, among others, the requirement for proprietors or contractors to record videos at the entrance and exit of the confined spaces throughout the entire work period, of the number of work sites involving confined space operations that have been inspected since the revision of the CoP, and whether any violations of the CoP by proprietors or contractors have been identified during the inspections; if so, of the main nature of such violations, and the numbers of written warnings, suspension notices, and improvement notices issued in response to such violations, as well as the number of prosecutions initiated; among these prosecutions, of the number of convictions and the penalties imposed;
     
    (2) given that the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC) launches the “OSH Enhancement Scheme for SMEs for Safe Work at Confined Space 2.0” (Enhancement Scheme) to subsidise eligible small and medium enterprises for purchasing equipment such as gas detectors and man-down alarm devices, of the number of application quotas available under the Enhancement Scheme and the numbers of applications received, approved, and rejected by the OSHC in each of the past three years and this year to date, with a breakdown by nature of business of the enterprise (e.g. drainage services, construction, and mechanical and electrical engineering); of the average amount of subsidy for the approved applications (set out by new applicants and enterprises previously subsidised), and the main reasons for applications being rejected; 
    (4) of the progress of the investigation to identify the causes of the fatal industrial accident involving a manhole that occurred on Yuen Wo Road in Sha Tin on April 22 last year, and whether prosecution has been initiated against those held liable for the accident; if so, of the details;
     
    (5) as it is reported that the authorities indicated last year that they would study the possibility of including clauses in sewer cleaning contracts to stipulate that if workers who are originally not supposed to enter a manhole subsequently need to do so, the Drainage Services Department must be informed and its approval had to be obtained in advance, of the progress made in this regard;
     
    (6) given that according to a paper submitted by the Government to the Panel on Manpower of this Council in June 2022, the Labour Department (LD) has established a notification system with key government departments/statutory bodies responsible for drainage works (including the Airport Authority Hong Kong, the Housing Department, the Highways Department and the Drainage Services Department), under which these government departments/statutory bodies will notify the LD of the date and time of all their drainage works or underground pipeworks that require workers to enter confined spaces, so as to facilitate surprise inspections by the LD as appropriate according to a risk-based strategy, of the number of works notified by these government departments/statutory bodies in each year since the establishment of the notification system, and the number of these works that have been inspected by the LD, with a breakdown by the notifying government department/statutory body; during these inspections, whether there are any cases where contractors were found to have violated the CoP and/or relevant OSH legislation (including the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Confined Spaces) Regulation (Cap. 59AE), the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (Cap. 59), and the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance (Cap. 509)); if so, of the details, including the number of cases and their nature, as well as the follow-up actions taken, with a breakdown by the notifying government department/statutory body; and
     
    (7) whether it will consider establishing a mandatory reporting mechanism for work in confined spaces, requiring contractors to report prior to commencing higher-risk work in confined space, so as to facilitate the authorities to arrange targeted inspections to enhance the safety of frontline workers? 
    President,
     
       Having consulted the Drainage Services Department (DSD), my consolidated reply to the Hon Chau Siu-chung’s question is as follows:

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Family plea for cold case closure

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Following decades of heartache, the family of Melissa Trussell (Brown) have joined police in a renewed call for information regarding the historic disappearance of the 15-year-old, and unsolved murder of her mother, Rosemary.

    Rosemary Brown, 33, along with her daughter Melissa, were last seen leaving their Blair Athol home at about 2.30am on Saturday 13 May, 2000.

    Today marks exactly 25 years since Rosemary’s body was discovered in the mangroves at Garden Island on 2 July 2000. Melissa’s remains have never been found.

    Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke, Officer in Charge of Major Crime Investigation Branch urged anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward.

    “This is a particularly disturbing case. A mother was murdered and her body disposed of.  We believe Melissa was also murdered,” he said.

    “It’s tragic for the family of Rosemary and Melissa to experience this long passage of time with no answers about what happened to their loved ones.

    “I have no doubt that numerous people either know what happened to Rosemary and Melissa or have information that will assist the investigation into their suspected murder.

    “We appeal to them to contact police and provide that information.”

    South Australia Police (SAPOL) investigators have today released additional childhood photos of Melissa as part of a renewed public plea for information.

    Recently visiting their last believed location – Stirling Street, Northfield – Melissa’s father Barry and half-sister Kayla reminisced on childhood memories regarding Melissa, while expressing their desire for closure.

    Describing Melissa as her “best friend”, Kayla hoped to one day give her the farewell she deserves.

    “We need to know where she is and what happened to her,” she pleaded.

    “We want to see the person or people who have caused our pain brought to justice.”

    Barry echoed Kayla’s appeal for answers 25 years on.

    “My message to the people responsible, because I don’t believe it to be just one person: it’s better to come forward now with information,” he said.

    “A parent shouldn’t outlive their child… and for a long time (Melissa’s disappearance) has messed me up.

    “I’m hoping some fresh information will finally come to light to help police solve the case.”

    Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au – you can remain anonymous.

    Rewards up to $1,000,000 will be paid by the Government of South Australia, at the discretion of the Commissioner of Police, to anyone who provides information and assistance that leads to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the suspected murder of Melissa Trussell (Brown) (and/or leading to the location and recovery of the victim’s remains).

    Rewards up to $200,000 will be paid by the Government of South Australia, at the discretion of the Commissioner of Police, to anyone who provides information and assistance that leads to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the suspected murder of Rosemary Brown.

    Edited footage

    Raw media footage

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Ready, steady, tax time!

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    We know running a small business is serious business and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to get your tax right, the first time. There are a few things you can do to prepare for the end of the financial year, whether you’re lodging yourself or using a tax professional.

    Get set up

    Online services for business is your central hub for managing tax and super online. To set up your access, you’ll need to:

    • download and set up your myID, the Australian Government’s Digital ID app
    • link your myID to your ABN in Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM).

    Tip: if you’re a sole trader, you can use ATO online services through myGov to engage with us. For more secure and flexible access, we recommend signing in with myID.

    Declare everything

    Make sure you declare all your business income – even non-monetary payments like goods or services you’ve received in exchange for your work. It all counts.

    Understand losses

    Business losses and non-commercial losses aren’t the same thing. Knowing the difference can impact how you report and carry forward losses, so it’s worth getting your head around it to get your tax right.

    Keep track of private use

    If you’ve used business money for personal expenses, keep clear records. It’s important to separate business activities and expenses from personal ones to avoid headaches later.

    Nominate your tax agent

    Using a tax agent? Make sure you nominate them in Online services for business. They won’t be able to access your information or act on your behalf until you’ve authorised them.

    Deductions: remember the 3 golden rules

    1. The expense must have been for your business, and not for private use.
    2. If the expense is for a mix of business and private use, you can only claim the portion that is used for your business.
    3. You must have records or receipts to prove it.

    Cash vs accruals: know your method

    The income you receive from running your small business will be assessable for tax purposes. How you account for income affects what you report:

    • Cash basis: Report income when you receive the payment – even if the work was done earlier.
    • Accruals basis: Report income when you earn it – even if you haven’t been paid yet.

    Don’t miss out on deductions and concessions

    Now is a great time to check if you’re eligible for any deductions or concessions when lodging your income tax return. You might be able to take advantage of:

    These can make a real difference to your bottom line – so it’s worth checking what applies to your business.

    We have a range of resources, tools and services available to help you get it right this tax time, including the 2025 Tax Time toolkit for small business.

    Keep up to date

    We’ve set up tailored communication channels for small businesses. They will keep you updated on important information and changes.

    Read more articles in our Small business newsroom.

    Subscribe to our free to our monthly Small business email newsletterExternal Link.

    Get email notifications about new and updated information on our website. You can choose to receive updates that matter to you. Select the ‘Business and organisations’ category. This way, your subscription will get notifications for more Small business newsroom articles like this one.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on July 01, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 6,81,010.53 5.20 3.95-6.50
         I. Call Money 16,015.92 5.31 4.75-5.40
         II. Triparty Repo 4,61,298.45 5.19 4.50-5.30
         III. Market Repo 2,00,852.61 5.21 3.95-5.50
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 2,843.55 5.49 5.40-6.50
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 54.50 5.27 5.15-5.32
         II. Term Money@@ 1,110.50 – 5.60-6.00
         III. Triparty Repo 5,503.90 5.22 5.15-5.40
         IV. Market Repo 247.46 5.40 5.40-5.40
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Tue, 01/07/2025 1 Wed, 02/07/2025 1,233.00 5.75
    4. SDFΔ# Tue, 01/07/2025 1 Wed, 02/07/2025 2,55,381.00 5.25
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -2,54,148.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo Fri, 27/06/2025 7 Fri, 04/07/2025 84,975.00 5.49
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       7,247.29  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -77,727.71  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -3,31,875.71  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on July 01, 2025 10,06,563.07  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending July 11, 2025 9,52,318.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ July 01, 2025 0.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on June 13, 2025 5,62,116.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2025-2026/640

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on July 01, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 6,81,010.53 5.20 3.95-6.50
         I. Call Money 16,015.92 5.31 4.75-5.40
         II. Triparty Repo 4,61,298.45 5.19 4.50-5.30
         III. Market Repo 2,00,852.61 5.21 3.95-5.50
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 2,843.55 5.49 5.40-6.50
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 54.50 5.27 5.15-5.32
         II. Term Money@@ 1,110.50 – 5.60-6.00
         III. Triparty Repo 5,503.90 5.22 5.15-5.40
         IV. Market Repo 247.46 5.40 5.40-5.40
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Tue, 01/07/2025 1 Wed, 02/07/2025 1,233.00 5.75
    4. SDFΔ# Tue, 01/07/2025 1 Wed, 02/07/2025 2,55,381.00 5.25
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -2,54,148.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo Fri, 27/06/2025 7 Fri, 04/07/2025 84,975.00 5.49
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       7,247.29  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -77,727.71  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -3,31,875.71  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on July 01, 2025 10,06,563.07  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending July 11, 2025 9,52,318.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ July 01, 2025 0.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on June 13, 2025 5,62,116.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2025-2026/640

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • PM Modi sets off on landmark 5-nation tour, eager to engage with global leaders

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday embarked for Accra, Ghana, marking the first leg of his five-nation tour aimed at reinforcing India’s global partnerships, with a focus on strengthening bonds across the Global South and both sides of the Atlantic.

    The tour includes visits to Ghana, Trinidad &amp, Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia- nations that PM Modi described as vital partners in India’s evolving foreign policy architecture, spanning historical ties, cultural linkages, economic engagement and multilateral cooperation.

    In his departure statement, PM Modi said, “At the invitation of President John Dramani Mahama, I will visit Ghana on July 2-3. Ghana is a valued partner in the Global South and plays an important role in the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States.”

    He expressed anticipation about deepening bilateral cooperation in areas, including investment, energy, health, security, and development partnership. “As fellow democracies, it will be an honour to speak at the Parliament of Ghana,” he said.

    The Prime Minister will then travel to Trinidad &amp, Tobago from July 3-4, a country he said shares “deep-rooted historical, cultural and people-to-people connect” with India.

    “I will meet President Christine Carla Kangaloo, who was the Chief Guest at this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who has recently assumed office for the second term,” he noted.

    Highlighting the longstanding diaspora bond, PM Modi recalled, “Indians first arrived in Trinidad and Tobago 180 years ago. This visit will provide an opportunity to rejuvenate the special bonds of ancestry and kinship that unite us.”

    From Port of Spain, PM Modi will head to Buenos Aires, marking the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in 57 years.

    Calling Argentina “a key economic partner in Latin America and a close collaborator in the G20,” he said, “I look forward to my discussions with President Javier Milei, whom I also had the pleasure of meeting last year. We will focus on advancing our mutually beneficial cooperation, including in the areas of agriculture, critical minerals, energy, trade, tourism, technology, and investment.”

    Following Argentina, the Prime Minister will participate in the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7. Emphasising India’s foundational role in the bloc, he said, “As a founding member, India is committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies. Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order.”

    PM Modi also confirmed he will meet with several world leaders on the sidelines of the summit. The visit to Brazil will continue with a bilateral state visit to Brasilia, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades.

    “This visit will provide an opportunity to strengthen our close partnership with Brazil, and work with my friend, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on advancing the priorities of the Global South,” he said.

    The final leg of PM Modi’s tour will take him to Namibia, which he described as “a trusted partner with whom we share a common history of struggle against colonialism.” The Prime Minister said he is looking forward to meeting President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and “charting a new roadmap for cooperation for the benefit of our peoples, our regions and the wider Global South.” He will also address the Joint Session of the Namibian Parliament.

    PM Modi expressed optimism about the outcomes of his multi-nation tour, stating, “I am confident that my visits to the five countries will reinforce our bonds of friendship across the Global South, strengthen our partnerships on both sides of the Atlantic, and deepen engagements in the multilateral platforms such as BRICS, the African Union, ECOWAS and the CARICOM.” (IANS)

  • PM Modi sets off on landmark 5-nation tour, eager to engage with global leaders

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday embarked for Accra, Ghana, marking the first leg of his five-nation tour aimed at reinforcing India’s global partnerships, with a focus on strengthening bonds across the Global South and both sides of the Atlantic.

    The tour includes visits to Ghana, Trinidad &amp, Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia- nations that PM Modi described as vital partners in India’s evolving foreign policy architecture, spanning historical ties, cultural linkages, economic engagement and multilateral cooperation.

    In his departure statement, PM Modi said, “At the invitation of President John Dramani Mahama, I will visit Ghana on July 2-3. Ghana is a valued partner in the Global South and plays an important role in the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States.”

    He expressed anticipation about deepening bilateral cooperation in areas, including investment, energy, health, security, and development partnership. “As fellow democracies, it will be an honour to speak at the Parliament of Ghana,” he said.

    The Prime Minister will then travel to Trinidad &amp, Tobago from July 3-4, a country he said shares “deep-rooted historical, cultural and people-to-people connect” with India.

    “I will meet President Christine Carla Kangaloo, who was the Chief Guest at this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who has recently assumed office for the second term,” he noted.

    Highlighting the longstanding diaspora bond, PM Modi recalled, “Indians first arrived in Trinidad and Tobago 180 years ago. This visit will provide an opportunity to rejuvenate the special bonds of ancestry and kinship that unite us.”

    From Port of Spain, PM Modi will head to Buenos Aires, marking the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in 57 years.

    Calling Argentina “a key economic partner in Latin America and a close collaborator in the G20,” he said, “I look forward to my discussions with President Javier Milei, whom I also had the pleasure of meeting last year. We will focus on advancing our mutually beneficial cooperation, including in the areas of agriculture, critical minerals, energy, trade, tourism, technology, and investment.”

    Following Argentina, the Prime Minister will participate in the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7. Emphasising India’s foundational role in the bloc, he said, “As a founding member, India is committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies. Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order.”

    PM Modi also confirmed he will meet with several world leaders on the sidelines of the summit. The visit to Brazil will continue with a bilateral state visit to Brasilia, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades.

    “This visit will provide an opportunity to strengthen our close partnership with Brazil, and work with my friend, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on advancing the priorities of the Global South,” he said.

    The final leg of PM Modi’s tour will take him to Namibia, which he described as “a trusted partner with whom we share a common history of struggle against colonialism.” The Prime Minister said he is looking forward to meeting President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and “charting a new roadmap for cooperation for the benefit of our peoples, our regions and the wider Global South.” He will also address the Joint Session of the Namibian Parliament.

    PM Modi expressed optimism about the outcomes of his multi-nation tour, stating, “I am confident that my visits to the five countries will reinforce our bonds of friendship across the Global South, strengthen our partnerships on both sides of the Atlantic, and deepen engagements in the multilateral platforms such as BRICS, the African Union, ECOWAS and the CARICOM.” (IANS)