NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Industry Consultation on the Future of the Account-to-Account Payments System

    Source: Airservices Australia

    The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and The Treasury welcome the release of a public consultation today by Australian Payments Network and Australian Payments Plus on the future of the account-to-account payments system.

    Formulating a clear vision for the account-to-account payments system that is consistent with public interest considerations is a foundational recommendation of the recent RBA Risk Assessment on the proposed decommissioning of the Bulk Electronic Clearing System.

    RBA Assistant Governor (Financial System) Brad Jones said: “The account-to-account system supports consumers, businesses and government agencies in their everyday economic activities. It is a vital part of Australia’s financial infrastructure. This consultation provides a broad range of stakeholders the chance to provide input into how the system can be modernised to meet the opportunities and challenges of the future, in the public interest.”

    To support the development of the vision, the RBA is publishing a paper outlining our public interest framework for the account-to-account payments system. Central to the success of the future system is its ability to provide all end users with access to payments options that are capable of meeting their needs, and that are cost-effective, reliable and safe. Achievement of these objectives will require effective industry governance arrangements, resilient infrastructure and competition and innovation among participants.

    Background

    Australian Payments Network (AusPayNet) is the self-regulatory body for the payments industry. It administers the framework for the Bulk Electronic Clearing System – Australia’s system for processing batch account-to-account payments, including payroll and welfare payments.

    Australian Payments Plus (AP+) is the provider of Australia’s fast payment system – the New Payments Platform – as well as the BPAY billing service.

    The consultation paper, and details about the submission process, can be accessed at either of the following locations:

    www.auspaynet.com.au/insights/consultations/A2Avision

    www.auspayplus.com.au/stakeholder-engagement/public-consultations

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Seven Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing and Trafficking 240 Firearms from Indianapolis Shipping Center

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

    INDIANAPOLIS— The following seven individuals have been sentenced for their roles in a firearms theft and trafficking conspiracy:

    Defendant Charge(s) Sentence
    Zackary Doss, 27
    • Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms
    • Possession of a Firearm by a Felon

    2.5 years imprisonment

    3 years of supervised release
    Dominique Ellison, 37
    • Possession of a Firearm by a Felon

    1.5 years imprisonment

    3 years of supervised release
    Antonio Grant, 33
    • Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms
    • Possession of a Firearm by a Felon
    		 3 years of probation
    Ryan Hurt, 30
    • Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms
    • Possession of Stolen Firearms

    4.5 years imprisonment

    3 years of supervised release
    Kevin Jones, Jr, 23
    • Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms
    • Possession or Sale of Stolen Firearms

    3.5 years imprisonment

    3 years of supervised release
    Malyk Mendez, 32
    • Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms

    1.5 years imprisonment

    1 year of supervised release
    Bruce Williams, 33
    • Conspiracy to Receive, Possess, Store or Sell Stolen Firearms
    • Possession of a Firearm by a Felon

    9 years imprisonment

    3 years of supervised release

    According to court documents, Bruce Williams and Ryan Hurt—then employees at an Indianapolis shipping facility—masterminded a scheme to steal firearms and sell them for profit, utilizing accomplices Malyk Mendez and convicted felon Antonio Grant, among others.  Firearms were ultimately sold to individuals including Kevin Jones, Jr., and convicted felons Dominique Ellison and Zackary Doss.  Jones and Doss, in turn, then sold the firearms to numerous other individuals.

    Between January and March 2022, the group made off with 240 firearms from four separate shipments headed for different states. The conspiracy began to unravel when ATF agents noticed a disturbing pattern: firearms sent through the Indianapolis terminal were missing key inventory.

    A breakdown of stolen firearms, varying in make and models, is as follows:

    • 9 mm semi-automatic handguns (174)
    • .38 caliber revolvers (13)
    • .22 caliber revolvers (2)
    • .45 caliber semi-automatic handguns (38)
    • semi-automatic rifles (5)
    • 10mm semi-automatic handguns (8)

    Williams and Hurt kept some firearms from the thefts for themselves but recruited others, including codefendants, to assist in locating buyers for the stolen guns. Williams also personally sold a substantial number of the stolen firearms.

    Of the 240 firearms that were stolen, only 61 firearms have been recovered as of May 5, 2025; over three years since the thefts occurred. Five of those firearms were recovered from Williams and Hurt upon their arrests.

    The other firearms recovered have been found in a wide array of criminal activity and locations; Indianapolis, Lafayette, Gary, Chicago, Florida, and Oklahoma, to name a few. The criminal activity has included felons possessing firearms, drug trafficking, domestic violence incidents, vehicle pursuits, shootings, carjackings, and homicides.

    “Stolen firearms are a major source of crime guns for violent offenders and pose a serious threat to public safety,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we’re committed to stopping gun traffickers, recovering stolen weapons, and keeping them out of the hands of dangerous individuals.”

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. 

    Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Pamela S. Domash and Bradley P. Shepard, who prosecuted this case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: JAMining Launches Global XRP Cloud Mining Initiative: Scalable, Secure, and Built for the Next Wave of Digital Adoption

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    JAMining, one of the industry’s most trusted names in cloud-based cryptocurrency mining, has officially launched its XRP cloud mining contracts—marking a new phase in decentralized participation for digital asset investors across the globe. With over 16 years of operational history, JAMining continues to push the boundaries of inclusive, intelligent mining.

    As the market demand for alternative mining methods accelerates, XRP has emerged as a strong contender, thanks to its high throughput, institutional appeal, and low transaction fees. JAMining’s latest integration allows anyone—from institutional investors to first-time users—to mine XRP securely without owning any physical hardware.

    Cloud Mining Reimagined: XRP Mining Without Borders

    JAMining’s XRP contracts remove the complexity and capital-intensive nature of traditional mining. Instead of purchasing ASIC machines or worrying about electricity rates, users can simply register, select a mining plan, and begin earning XRP within minutes.

    The platform offers short- and medium-term mining contracts, such as:

          （Click here for more contract details )

    All contracts are capital-protected and designed for liquidity—ensuring your initial investment is returned at the end of the term, with daily income automatically credited.

    “The idea is simple,” said a JAMining spokesperson. “You don’t need to be a blockchain expert to benefit from blockchain infrastructure. JAMining’s AI-backed mining engine does the heavy lifting while you collect stable daily rewards.”

    Intelligent Systems, Zero Hardware Hassles

    Key Features:

    • AI-Powered Allocation: Mining tasks are dynamically distributed to maximize profitability across XRP pools.
    • No Setup Required: All systems run in high-availability data centers powered by renewable energy.
    • Mobile Dashboard Access: Track earnings, contract performance, and manage settings with full transparency.
    • Real-Time Payouts: 24/7 mining with daily income and instant withdrawals.

    The platform’s backend is hosted across strategically located, environmentally responsible data centers powered by solar and wind energy. By prioritizing sustainability, JAMining positions itself as a rare fusion of financial innovation and ecological responsibility.

    Why XRP and Why Now?

    XRP’s increasing role in cross-border payments, remittances, and institutional banking has made it one of the most discussed digital assets of 2025. With regulatory clarity on the horizon and major financial entities eyeing XRP’s utility, cloud mining it now offers a rare asymmetric opportunity.

    Unlike speculation-based investing, cloud mining provides fixed, predictable income—something that risk-averse investors and institutions increasingly prefer.

    “The shift we’re seeing in the market is clear: users want passive, predictable returns, not emotional trading swings,” said JAMining’s lead analyst. “Our XRP cloud contracts are designed exactly for this new wave of investor demand.”

    Global Impact, Local Accessibility

    With over 11.2 million users across 190+ countries, JAMining’s mission is to make wealth-building tools available to everyone. The XRP launch fits that mission precisely—offering equal access to a growing asset with real-world utility.

    The JAMining platform is currently available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, German, Russian, Italian, Japanese, French, Korean, with more languages ​​coming soon.

    Ready to Join?

    New users receive $100 in mining credits instantly upon registration. No prior experience is needed.
    Start mining XRP, BTC, ETH, and more today at https://jamining.com/
    For partnership or media inquiries, please email: info@jamining.com

     

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and the possibility of losing funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: New laws to make it harder for large Australian and foreign companies to avoid paying tax

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kerrie Sadiq, Professor of Taxation, QUT Business School, and ARC Future Fellow, Queensland University of Technology

    The Conversation, CC BY

    The beginning of the financial year means for the first time in Australia the public will see previously unreleased tax reports produced by multinational taxpayers.

    These documents, known as country-by-country reports, or CbCR for short, contain information about the tax practices of large Australian businesses and foreign businesses operating in Australia. This information, previously only available to the taxpayer and the Australian Tax Office, will be made public.

    Country-by-country reports, announced in the October 2022-2023 budget, were introduced with other measures designed to improve corporate tax behaviour. The reports will be released from this week as part of corporate reporting practices. Multinationals have 12 months to comply.

    A fairer tax system

    Country-by-country reporting forms part of the government’s multinational tax integrity election commitment package. The aim is to ensure a fairer and more sustainable tax system. Large firms will be required to publish a statement on their global activities plus tax information for each jurisdiction in which they operate.

    Until now, large multinationals only had to prepare annual consolidated financial statements under international financial reporting standards. The traditional reports aggregate results and provide limited geographic reporting information.

    Traditional high-level reporting allows multinationals to conceal their country-level activities. This hides questionable tax practices.

    Country-by-country reporting allows us to better see where a multinational operates. More importantly, the amount of activity in each jurisdiction is reported. The information provides clues as to whether artificial profit shifting has occurred.

    Anyone interested can uncover details about how multinationals structure their global operations. Information may reveal a misalignment between the company’s real economic presence in a country, the profits they book and taxes they pay in that country.

    Bringing Australia into line with the EU

    Country-by-country reporting is not new. It is the requirement that the information be made public that has changed.

    Australian firms have been required to provide such reports to the Australian Tax Office since 2016. However, the information has been confidential.

    The new public disclosure law brings Australia in line with large firms operating in the European Union which brought in the change last year.

    How country-by-country reporting works

    A taxpayer with annual global income above A$1 billion and at least A$10 million of its turnover Australian-sourced will need to produce a report. The obligation to disclose rests with the parent entity no matter where they are located.

    Australia’s largest companies, including mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP, biotech firm CSL, and investment bank Macquarie Group, will be among those expected to report, as will foreign tech behemoths such as Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta.

    These tech giants are the same US firms likely to be excluded from the global minimum tax rules under a G7 agreement reached last week. Under the agreement, US multinationals were exempted from paying more corporate tax overseas. Other G7 members gave in to protect their own companies from the US’s threat of retaliation.

    Under the law change in Australia, a parent entity will provide its name, the names of all members of the group, a description of their approach to tax, and information about operations in certain countries. Included on the list are countries that attract multinationals due to reduced tax obligations, such as Singapore, Switzerland, and the Bahamas.

    Everyone will be able to see where a multinational is operating. They will also see the types of business activities conducted, number of employees, assets, revenue, and taxes paid. Large profits in a country but little business activity and very few employees may raise questions, especially if a country has a low tax rate.

    Benefits of better transparency

    Access to the extra information will help investors assess the tax and reputational risk of a firm. A multinational that shifts profits to low tax countries may be audited and pay extra tax and penalties.

    Increased transparency allows greater scrutiny. In turn, it is hoped multinationals will reduce aggressive tax planning due to potential risk to their reputation.

    If multinationals shift less taxable profits out of Australia to low-tax or no-tax jurisdictions, this will lead to Australia receiving a greater share of much needed corporate tax revenue.

    Reducing profit shifting

    Recent academic research on public country-by-country reporting reveals it provides additional information to better identify tax haven activity. However, it does not result in a significant drop in corporate tax avoidance.

    Increased tax transparency helps investors and tax authorities to better understand a multinational’s economic and tax geographic footprint. It is also important when it seems that US giants will be excluded from the 15% global minimum tax rules. Transparency by itself, however, does not lead to multinationals paying more corporate taxes.

    By its very nature, tax avoidance is legal but pushes the boundaries by going against the spirit of the law. Indeed, many large multinationals argue tax is a legal obligation and is not voluntary. They maintain they pay the tax required of them according to the law.

    Undoubtedly, Australia’s new public country-by-country regime is a positive step for tax transparency. As a country initiative, it has been applauded as groundbreaking and world leading. However, it is not a panacea to corporate tax avoidance.

    To limit corporate tax avoidance and have multinationals pay more corporate taxes, we must get to the heart of the problem. We must change the law that dictates the way multinationals are taxed.

    Kerrie Sadiq currently receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She has previously received research grants from CPA Australia and CAANZ.

    Rodney Brown has previously received research grants from CPA Australia and CAANZ.

    – ref. New laws to make it harder for large Australian and foreign companies to avoid paying tax – https://theconversation.com/new-laws-to-make-it-harder-for-large-australian-and-foreign-companies-to-avoid-paying-tax-260004

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: RBB Bancorp to Report Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RBB Bancorp (NASDAQ: RBB) and its subsidiaries, Royal Business Bank (the “Bank”) and RBB Asset Management Company (“RAM”), collectively referred to herein as the “Company”, today announced that it will release financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2025 after the markets close on Monday, July 21, 2025.

    Management will hold a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time/2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 to discuss the Company’s financial results.

    To listen to the conference call, please dial 1-888-506-0062 or 1-973-528-0011, passcode 710803, Conference ID RBBQ225. A replay of the call will be made available at 1-877-481-4010 or 1-919-882-2331, passcode 52690, approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call and will remain available through August 05, 2025.

    Additionally, interested parties can listen to a live webcast of the call in the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at www.royalbusinessbankusa.com.  This webcast will be recorded and available for replay on the Company’s website approximately two hours after the conclusion of the conference call.

    Corporate Overview

    RBB Bancorp is a community-based financial holding company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had total assets of $4.0 billion. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Royal Business Bank, is a full service commercial bank, which provides consumer and business banking services predominantly to the Asian-centric communities in Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Ventura County in California, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan in New York, in Edison, New Jersey, in the Chicago neighborhoods of Chinatown and Bridgeport, Illinois, and on Oahu, Hawaii. Bank services include remote deposit, E-banking, mobile banking, commercial and investor real estate loans, business loans and lines of credit, commercial and industrial loans, SBA 7A and 504 loans, 1-4 single family residential loans, trade finance, a full range of depository account products and wealth management services. The Bank has nine branches in Los Angeles County, two branches in Ventura County, one branch in Orange County, California, one branch in Las Vegas, Nevada, three branches and one loan operation center in Brooklyn, three branches in Queens, one branch in Manhattan in New York, one branch in Edison, New Jersey, two branches in Chicago, Illinois, and one branch in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Company’s administrative and lending center is located at 1055 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90017, and its finance and operations center is located at 7025 Orangethorpe Ave., Buena Park, California 90621. The Company’s website address is www.royalbusinessbankusa.com.

    Contacts
    Lynn Hopkins, EVP and Chief Financial Officer, (657) 255-3282

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to unpublished conference abstract looking at microplastics in human reproductive fluids

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    An unpublished conference abstract presented at the ESHRE 41st Annual Meeting in Paris looks at microplastics in human reproductive fluids.

    Prof Oliver Jones, Professor of Chemistry, RMIT University, said:

    “It is hard to say much at all about this study without knowing the full details of the methods used and the precautions taken against background contamination.  All we have to go on is a very brief abstract, not a peer-reviewed paper.  Many previous scary-sounding headlines on microplastics in blood and food have turned out to be measurement errors by people unfamiliar with the problems of microplastic measurements1,2 and/or background contamination3.  I don’t think lab contamination can be ruled out in this case.  The most common plastic found, PTFE, is very widely used in laboratories, including IVF labs, and background contamination makes all forms of microplastic analysis extremely technically challenging.

    “Even if we assume no measurement errors, the results are from a total of 51 individuals, so they are far from conclusive (a limitation acknowledged by the authors), and this study does not claim to demonstrate any harm.  We would need these findings to be replicated, ideally in other laboratories around the world, before we could tell if this was a one-off event or not.  So, while the data are certainly interesting, they are at best preliminary.  I don’t think people who may be trying to conceive, either naturally or via IVF, need to be concerned.”

    References
    1 Kuhlman, R. L., Letter to the editor, discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood. Environment International 2022, 167, 107400, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412022003270?via%3Dihub

    2 Mühlschlegel, P. et al. Lack of evidence for microplastic contamination in honey. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A 2017, 34 (11), 1982-1989, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28665769/  

    3 Rauert C.  et al. Blueprint for the design construction and validation of a plastic and phthalate-minimised laboratory. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2024 468 133803, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389424003820

    Dr Channa Jayasena, Associate Professor in Reproductive Endocrinology, Imperial College London, said:

    “Microplastics are able to interfere with how cells in different bits of the body speak to each other, and can cause cell damage.  Unfortunately, it is no longer a surprise that microplastics find their way into the fluids which are essential for men and women to reproduce.  This study was very small, and did not report fertility outcomes in the study participants.  But it was well-designed study using state-of-the-art technology to show just how commonly microplastics enter reproductive fluids.  They showed that most of the studied samples in men and women contained microplastics.  Some previous studies have reported that microplastic exposure is associated with lower-than-normal fertility in men.  The results contribute to a growing concern for public health – we don’t know what the impact of all types of microplastics are on reproductive function in men and women.  Understanding this will help us understand how big a problem microplastics post for fertility in society.”

    Dr Stephanie Wright, Associate Professor in Environmental Toxicology, Imperial College London, said:

    “Without information on the sizes of the microplastic particles observed, it is challenging to interpret how meaningful this data is.  There is a high potential for samples to become contaminated with microplastic throughout the sampling, laboratory processing, and analysis procedures.  If stringent steps to minimise this are taken, other clues such as the size of the particles observed can be used to rule out such contamination, with there being a greater likelihood for smaller particles ( 0.01 mm) being absorbed and redistributed around the body.  It is not a surprise that microplastics have been found – they are everywhere, even in the lab – but the data provided do not support that they are there as a result of human exposure as opposed to methodological artefact and must be interpreted with caution at this early stage.”

    Prof Fay Couceiro, Professor of Environmental Pollution, and Head of the Microplastics Research Group, University of Portsmouth, said:

    “As this is not peer reviewed and there is no detailed methodology it is difficult to give specific information on quality etc.  Here are some general comments:

    “The study is very interesting and considering the global reduction in fertility rates, looking at possible causes is very topical and timely.  As the authors state, finding microplastics is not that surprising as we have found them in lots of other areas of our bodies. Presence is also not the same as impact and the authors are clear that while they have found microplastics in the reproductive fluids of both men and women, we still don’t know how they are affecting us.  As a preliminary study the work is interesting, but more information is required on numbers of microplastics found, sizes, method blanks and any plastics used during the medical procedures before any real conclusions can be made.  I look forward to reading the full article once it is ready. (A method blank is when you run the experimental steps, but with clean water, and then analyse that to see if you have any microplastics in it.  This would let you know if there is any external contamination, and if the microplastics in the samples are from the reproductive fluid, or introduced from the digestion and analysis steps.  It would be very unusual not to see any microplastics in the blanks if they are looking below 10 micrometres in size range. At that size, microplastics are in the air and very hard to get away from.  If they only analysed larger particles then you tend to find less in your method blanks, but it is common practice to give these in a full paper so that people can see if the number you are finding in your samples is higher than in the blanks.)

    Does the press release accurately reflect the science?

    “To the extent of which data is available it does, it is clear this is only looking at the presence of microplastics and not impacts.

    Is this good quality research?  Are the conclusions backed up by solid data?

    “Very hard to judge without more in depth information on methods, numbers found in blanks, size ranges of microplastics etc.

    Is there enough data available to be able to judge the quality of this work?

    “At this stage I would say no – as above the methods really need to be more detailed.  Microplastics are everywhere and even with the best methods you find some in the blanks at the smaller sizes (less than 10 um).  They say they looked in the containers but the method blank data is missing as are the actual numbers found, e.g. is it 10 microplastics per ml of SF?  Is 10 significantly greater than what was found in the method blank?  Size range is also very important and not mentioned anywhere I can see.

    Is this a peer-reviewed journal publication or more preliminary?

    “Preliminary.

    How does this work fit with the existing evidence?

    “It is expected as microplastics have been found in all bodily fluids/organs tested.

    Have the authors accounted for confounders?  Are there important limitations to be aware of?

    “It is unclear if there is any plastic used in the collection of the samples as I am unfamiliar with the procedures – the storage vessel is glass but is plastic used in the follicular aspiration?  Many medical instruments are made from plastic, is that the case here?

    What are the implications in the real world?  Is there any overspeculation?

    “No – they are clear this is just a presence/absence experiment and that further work needs to take place to determine any impacts.”

    Abstract title: ‘Unveiling the Hidden Danger: Detection and characterisation of microplastics in human follicular and seminal fluids’ by E. Gomez-Sanchez et al. It will be presented at the ESHRE 41st Annual Meeting in Paris, and the embargo lifted at 23:01 UK time on Tuesday 1 July 2025.

    There is no paper.

    Declared interests

    Prof Oliver Jones: “I am a Professor of Chemistry at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.  I conduct research into environmental pollution, including microplastics.  I have no conflicts of interest to declare.”

    Dr Channa Jayasena: “None.”

    Dr Stephanie Wright: “Own research: MRC, NERC, NIHR, Common Seas, Minderoo Foundation, LECO;

    To attend scientific meetings: American Chemistry Council – to attend a workshop on microplastic reference materials (2022); Minderoo Foundation – to attend workshops on microplastic measurement in human tissue (2024, 2025);

    Current or previous advisory roles or committee membership: ILSI Europe, PlasticsEurope (BRIGID project), Cefic LRI projects advisory roles, have been a temporary member of UK Air Quality Expert Group;

    Previous employment in companies: none.”

    Prof Fay Couceiro: “I work in the field of microplastics but I was not involved in the study and I am not working with the authors.  I am unaware of any conflict of interest.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Industry Skills Boards will drive better training

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Eight new Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) will give industry a strong voice in work-based learning, ensuring the system delivers the right skills, in the right places, for a growing economy, Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds says. 

    “The Government promised to disestablish Te Pūkenga and return decision-making to local providers and industry. The Industry Skills Boards are a key part of delivering on that promise,” Ms Simmonds says.

    “This is all part of our plan to make sure that the training people receive is aligned to what industry needs, and skills are matched to ensure they are fit-for-purpose, paving the way for economic growth.  We want to ensure our workforce across key growth sectors are ready to hit the ground running.

    “The ISBs will be led by industry experts who know their trades and sectors best. They will set training standards, oversee quality, and make sure apprenticeships and traineeships match what employers and students need.”

    The eight Industry Skills Boards will begin operating from 1 January 2026 once the legislation is passed later this year. They will also temporarily manage work-based training currently overseen by Te Pūkenga. Backed by industry consultation, they will cover:

    • Automotive, transport, and logistics
    • Construction and specialist trades
    • Food and fibre (including aquaculture)
    • Infrastructure
    • Manufacturing and engineering
    • Services
    • Health and community
    • Electrotechnology and information technology

    Industry Skills Boards will have three main funding sources. They will receive some core public funding, they can choose to charge fees to fund their quality assurance functions, and industries can also choose to support ISBs through a levy. 

    Around 250,000 learners enter the vocational education system each year — half learning on campus or online, and half through work-based training. 

    “Whether you’re learning on the job or in a classroom, these changes will make your training more relevant and valuable,” Ms Simmonds says. 

    “We want every apprentice and trainee to be confident their qualifications will be recognised by employers. Employers can trust the system to deliver skilled workers ready to step into roles. 

    “This is a win for apprentices, trainees, employers, and the economy. We’re building a modern, connected work-based learning system that supports quality jobs and drives the economic growth powering New Zealand’s future.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New director bolsters freight expertise on KiwiRail board

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The appointment of Scott O’Donnell to the KiwiRail board will bolster its freight expertise Minister for Rail Winston Peters says. 

    “Railways have no shortage of potential for New Zealand, and we expect to see sustained growth in earnings, revenue, volumes, reliability, and safety to turn this business into something great.”

    Mr O’Donnell is a current director of HW Richardson Group and was its managing director from 2006 to 2015. The Group owns 46 companies, employing 2000 people across six sectors including road freight.

     “Mr O’Donnell, new Chair Sue Tindal and the Treasury have established a conflict-of-interest management plan which will be reviewed and monitored.

     “The company’s road freight operation is primarily south of Oamaru, and as such Mr O’Donnell will recuse himself from KiwiRail activities in this part of New Zealand. 

    “Mr O’Donnell has resigned as chair of HW Richardson-owned Dynes Transport but remains on its board, noting this company is receiving Government co-investment for a rail siding into a new Mosgiel road and rail freight hub,” Mr Peters says.

    Term: 1 September 2025 – 31 August 2028

    Biography: Scott O’Donnell is a Director of the HW Richardson (HWR) Group and was previously Managing Director of the Group from 2006 to 2015. In addition to his directorship, Mr O’Donnell spearheads the HWR Group Property portfolio that is responsible for various projects across New Zealand. Mr O’Donnell has led HWR Group through a decade of considerable growth, in both company size, business growth and diversification. His deep expertise both operational and governance in property management, transport, freight, and logistics as well as his commercial nous will add important strategic insights to KiwiRail’s business.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Going to extremes – understanding Antarctic sea-ice decline

    Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

    Most people will never see Antarctic sea ice up close, but its presence or absence affects our day-to-day lives.
    Now scientists are questioning whether a ‘regime shift’ to a new state of diminished Antarctic sea-ice coverage is underway, due to recent record lows.
    If so, it will have impacts across climate, ecological and societal systems, according to new research published in PNAS Nexus.

    These impacts include ocean warming, increased iceberg calving, habitat loss and sea-level rise, and effects on fisheries, Antarctic tourism, and even the mental health of the global human population.
    Led by Australian Antarctic Program Partnership oceanographer Dr Edward Doddridge, the international team assessed the impacts of extreme summer sea-ice lows, and the challenges to predicting and mitigating change.
    “Antarctic sea ice provides climate and ecosystem services of regional and global significance,” Dr Doddridge said.
    “There are far reaching negative impacts caused by sea-ice loss.
    “However, we do not sufficiently understand the baseline system to be able to predict how it will respond to the dramatic changes we are already observing.
    “To predict future changes, and to potentially mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on Antarctica, we urgently need to improve our knowledge through new observations and modelling studies.”
    What’s at stake?
    While sea-ice loss affects many things, the research team identified three key impacts:

    Reduced summer sea-ice cover exposes more of the ocean to sunlight. This leads to surface water warming that promotes further sea-ice loss. Ocean warming increases melting under glacial ice shelves, which could lead to increased iceberg calving. Warmer water also affects the flow of deep-water currents that help move ocean heat around the globe, influencing the planet’s climate.
    Sea-ice loss exposes the ice shelves that fringe the Antarctic continent to damaging ocean swells and storms. These can weaken the ice shelves, leading to iceberg calving. As ice shelves slow the flow of ice from the interior of the Antarctic continent to the coast, iceberg calving allows this interior ice flow to speed up, contributing to sea-level rise.
    Sea ice provides breeding habitat for penguin and seal species, and a refuge for many marine species from predators. It is also an important nursery habitat and source of food (sea-ice algae) for Antarctic krill – an important prey species for many Southern Ocean inhabitants. Adverse sea-ice conditions that persist over several seasons could see population declines in these sea-ice dependent species.

    The research team also identified socio-economic and wellbeing impacts, affecting fisheries, tourism, scientific research, ice-navigation, coastal operations, and the mental health (climate anxiety) of the global population.
    For example, shorter sea-ice seasons will reduce the window for over-ice resupplies of Antarctic stations. There could also be increased shipping pressures on the continent, including from alien species incursions, fuel spills and an increase in the number and movement of tourist vessels to and from new locations.
    Research co-author and sea-ice system expert, Dr Petra Heil, from the Australian Antarctic Division, said the paper highlighted the need for ongoing, year-round, field-based and satellite measurements of circumpolar sea-ice variables (especially thickness), and sub-surface ocean variables.
    This would allow integrated analyses of the Southern Ocean processes contributing to the recent sea-ice deficits.
    “As shown in climate simulations, continued greenhouse gas emissions, even at reduced rate, will further accelerate persistent deficits of sea ice, and with it a lack of the critical climate and ecosystem functions it provides,” Dr Heil said.
    “To conserve and preserve the physical environment and ecosystems of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean we must prioritise an immediate and sustained transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
    “Ultimately our decison for immediate and deep action will provide the maximum future proofing we can have in terms of lifestyle and economic values.”
    Learn more about Antarctic sea ice in our feature ‘Sea ice in crisis’.
    This content was last updated 8 minutes ago on 2 July 2025.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Bill Moyers’ journalism strengthened democracy by connecting Americans to ideas and each other, in a long and extraordinary career

    Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Julie Leininger Pycior, Professor of History Emeritus, Manhattan University

    “Bill Moyers? He’s spectacular!” George Clooney said – and no wonder.

    I mentioned this legendary television journalist to the actor and filmmaker after Clooney emerged from the Broadway theater where he just had been portraying another news icon: Edward R. Murrow. Or as the Museum of Broadcast Communications put it in a tribute to Moyers, he was “one of the few broadcast journalists who might be said to approach the stature of Edward R. Murrow. If Murrow founded broadcast journalism, Moyers significantly extended its traditions.”

    Moyers, who died at 91 on June 26, 2025, was among the most acclaimed broadcast journalists of the 20th century. He’s known for TV news shows that exposed the role of big money in politics and episodes that drew attention to unsung defenders of democracy, such as community organizer Ernesto Cortés Jr..

    Earlier in his life, Moyers served in significant roles in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, but his fame comes from his journalism.

    Making a connection

    Despite his prominence, Moyers was the same down-to-earth guy in person as he seemed to be on the screen. In 1986, he was commanding a television audience of millions, and I was a historian at home with a preschooler, teaching the occasional college course in a dismal job market. Seeing that Moyers would be speaking at the conference on President Lyndon B. Johnson where I would be giving a paper, I wrote to him.

    To my utter amazement, he replied and then showed up to hear my paper, on Johnson’s experiences as a young principal of the “Mexican” school in Cotulla, Texas, where he championed his students but also forged links to segregationists. Cotulla was “seminal” to LBJ’s development, Moyers said. In 1993, he recommended me for a grant that helped me finish a book: “LBJ and Mexican Americans: The Paradox of Power.

    A few years later, he asked me to head up a project researching the documents related to his time in Johnson’s administration. His memoir of the Johnson years never materialized. Instead, I edited the bestselling ”Moyers on America: A Journalist and His Times.“

    Part of what always impressed me about Moyers was his belief that what matters is not how close you are to power, but how close you are to reality.

    ‘Amazing Grace’

    Moyers didn’t just dwell on politics and policy as a journalist. He also delved into the meaning of creativity and the life of the mind. Many of his most moving interviews spotlighted scientists, novelists and other exceptional people.

    He was also arguably among the best reporters on the religion beat. Even if it wasn’t always the main focus of his work or what comes to mind for those familiar with his legacy, still, he was a lifelong spiritual seeker.

    This is hardly surprising: Moyers had degrees in both divinity and journalism. As a young man, he briefly served as a Baptist minister.

    He once told me that his favorite of the many programs that he produced was the PBS documentary ”Amazing Grace.“ It featured inspiring renditions of this popular Christian hymn as performed by country legend Johnny Cash, folk icon Judy Collins, opera diva Jessye Norman and other musical geniuses. As they share with Moyers their personal connections to this song of redemption, he draws viewers into the stirring saga of its creator, John Newton: a slave trader who became an abolitionist through “amazing grace.”

    Bill Moyers interviews Judy Collins about singing ‘Amazing Grace,’ following the production of his PBS special about the hymn.

    Life’s ultimate questions

    This appreciation of the ineffable clearly informed Moyers’ blockbuster TV series exploring life’s ultimate questions, “Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth.”

    His interviews with Campbell, a comparative mythologist, evoked moments that made time stand still, and this reminded me of Thomas Merton, the American monk and poet, writing, “Everything is emptiness and everything is compassion” on beholding the immense Polonnaruwa Buddhas of Sri Lanka.

    To my surprise, Moyers knew about this Trappist monk, telling me, “I always wished that I could have interviewed Merton,” who died in 1968.

    It turned out that Moyers had been introduced to Merton by Sargent Shriver, founding director of the Peace Corps, where Moyers was a founding organizer and the deputy director.

    Mentored by LBJ

    Moyers characterized his Peace Corps years as the most rewarding of his life. When Johnson, his mentor, became president, he asked Moyers to join the White House staff. Moyers turned down the offer, so Johnson made it a presidential command.

    The wunderkind – Moyers was 29 years old in 1963, when Johnson was sworn in after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination – coordinated the White House task forces that created the largest number of legislative proposals in American history. Among the programs and landmark reforms established and passed during the Johnson administration were Medicare and Medicaid, a landmark immigration law, the Freedom of Information Act, the Public Broadcasting Act and two historic civil rights laws.

    Johnson’s war on poverty, in addition, introduced several path-breaking programs, such as Head Start.

    Moyers served as one of Johnson’s speechwriters and was a top official in Johnson’s 1964 presidential campaign. The following year, the Johnson administration began escalating U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and Johnson named a new press secretary: Bill Moyers. Again, the young man tried to decline, but the president prevailed.

    As Moyers had feared, he could not serve two masters – journalists and his boss – especially as the administration’s Vietnam War policies became increasingly unpopular.

    President Lyndon B. Johnson confers with Bill Moyers, his press secretary, in 1965.
    Corbis Historical via Getty Images

    Appreciating the world around you

    Moyers left the Johnson administration in 1967, turning to journalism. He became the publisher of Newsday, a Long Island, New York, newspaper, before becoming a producer and commentator at CBS News. His commentaries reached tens of millions of viewers, but the network refused to provide a regular time slot for his documentaries. He had previously worked at PBS. In 1987, he decamped there for good.

    Moyers’ programs won many journalism awards, including over 30 Emmys, along with the Lifetime Emmy for news and documentary productions.

    He helped millions of Americans appreciate the world around them. As he reflected in 2023, in one of the last interviews he gave, to PBS journalist Judy Woodruff at the Library of Congress: “Everything is linked, and if you can find that nerve that connects us to other things and other places and other ideas – and television should be doing it all the time – we’d be a better democracy.”

    Judy Woodruff interviews Bill Moyers about his life’s work in government and the media, including his contributions to the launch of PBS, at the Library of Congress.

    Today, with disinformation metastasizing, professional journalists losing their jobs by the thousands and some newspaper owners muzzling their editorial staff, thoughtful explanations can lose out. That means Americans can lose out.

    “It takes time, commitment” to dig below the surface and discover the deeper meaning of people’s lives, Moyers noted. He sought to understand, for example, why so many folks in his own hometown of Marshall, Texas, have become much more suspicious – resentful, even – of outsiders than when he gave these folks voice in his poignant, prize-winning 1984 program Marshall, Texas; Marshall, Texas.

    In this era of growing threats to democracy, what can a young person do who aspires to follow in Bill Moyers’ footsteps – whether in journalism or public life?

    Woodruff asked Moyers that question, to which he responded: “You can’t quit. You can’t get out of the boat! Find a place that gives you a sense of being, gives you a sense of mission, gives you a sense of participation.”

    Today, with the future of journalism – and of democracy itself – at stake, I think it would help everyone to take to heart the insights of this late, great American journalist.

    Julie Leininger Pycior edited the book “Moyers on America: A Journalist and His Times.” She also was hired by Moyers to direct the 18-month “LBJ Years” research project.

    In addtion, she served as an unpaid, informal historical adviser for some of his public television programs.

    – ref. Bill Moyers’ journalism strengthened democracy by connecting Americans to ideas and each other, in a long and extraordinary career – https://theconversation.com/bill-moyers-journalism-strengthened-democracy-by-connecting-americans-to-ideas-and-each-other-in-a-long-and-extraordinary-career-260047

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Invasive carp threaten the Great Lakes − and reveal a surprising twist in national politics

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mike Shriberg, Professor of Practice & Engagement, School for Environment & Sustainability, University of Michigan

    Invasive Asian carp are spreading up the Mississippi River system and already clog the Illinois River. AP Photo/John Flesher

    In his second term, President Donald Trump has not taken many actions that draw near-universal praise from across the political spectrum. But there is at least one of these political anomalies, and it illustrates the broad appeal of environmental protection and conservation projects – particularly when it concerns an ecosystem of vital importance to millions of Americans.

    In May 2025, Trump issued a presidential memorandum supporting the construction of a physical barrier that is key to keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. These fish have made their way up the Mississippi River system and could have dire ecological consequences if they enter the Great Lakes.

    It was not a given that Trump would back this project, which had long been supported by environmental and conservation organizations. But two very different strategies from two Democratic governors – both potential presidential candidates in 2028 – reflected the importance of the Great Lakes to America.

    As a water policy and politics scholar focused on the Great Lakes, I see this development not only as an environmental and conservation milestone, but also a potential pathway for more political unity in the U.S.

    A feared invasion

    Perhaps nothing alarms Great Lakes ecologists more than the potential for invasive carp from Asia to establish a breeding population in the Great Lakes. These fish were intentionally introduced in the U.S. Southeast by private fish farm and wastewater treatment operators as a means to control algae in aquaculture and sewage treatment ponds. Sometime in the 1990s, the fish escaped from those ponds and moved rapidly up the Mississippi River system, including into the Illinois River, which connects to the Great Lakes.

    Sometimes said to “breed like mosquitoes and eat like hogs,” these fish can consume up to 40% of their body weight each day, outcompeting many native species and literally sucking up other species and food sources.

    Studies of Lake Erie, for example, predict that if the carp enter and thrive, they could make up approximately one-third of the fish biomass of the entire lake within 20 years, replacing popular sportfishing species such as walleye and other ecologically and economically important species.

    Invasive carp are generally not eaten in the U.S. and are not desirable for sportfishing. In fact, silver carp have a propensity to jump up to 10 feet out of the water when startled by a boat motor. That can make parts of the Illinois River, which is packed with the invasive fish, almost impossible to fish or even maneuver a boat.

    Look out! Silver carp fly out of the water, obstructing boats and hitting people trying to enjoy a river in Indiana.

    The Brandon Road Lock and Dam solution

    Originally, the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River were not connected to each other. But in 1900, the city of Chicago connected them to avoid sending its sewage into Lake Michigan, from which the city draws its drinking water.

    The most complete way to block the carp from invading the Great Lakes would be to undo that connection – but that would recreate sewage and flooding issues for Chicago, or require other expensive infrastructure upgrades. The more practical, short-term alternative is to modify the historic Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, Illinois, by adding several obstacles that together would block the carp from swimming farther upriver toward the Great Lakes.

    The barrier, estimated to cost US$1.15 billion, was authorized by Congress in 2020 and 2022 after many years of intense planning and negotiations. For the first phase of construction, the project received $226 million in federal money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to complement $114 million in state funding – $64 million from Michigan and $50 million from Illinois.

    On the first day of Trump’s second term, however, he paused a wide swath of federal funding, including funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. And that’s when two different political strategies emerged.

    A brief documentary explains the construction of a connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basin.

    Pritzker vs. Whitmer vs. Trump

    Illinois, a state that has voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1992, has the most financially at stake in the Brandon Road project because the project requires the state to acquire land and operate the barrier. When Trump issued his order, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, postponed the purchase of a key piece of land, blaming the “Trump Administration’s lack of clarity and commitment” to the project. Pritzker essentially dared Trump to be the reason for the collapse of the Great Lakes ecosystem and fisheries.

    Another Democrat, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, a swing state with the most at stake economically and ecologically if these carp species enter the Great Lakes, took a very different approach. She went to the White House to talk with Trump about invasive carp and other issues. She defended her nonconfrontational approach to critics, though she also hid her face from cameras when Trump surprised her with an Oval Office press conference. When Trump visited Michigan, she stood beside him as they praised each other.

    When Trump released the federal funding in early May, Pritzker kept up his adversarial language, saying he was “glad that the Trump administration heard our calls … and decided to finally meet their obligation.” Whitmer stayed more conciliatory, calling the funding decision a “huge win that will protect our Great Lakes and secure our economy.” She said she was “grateful to the president for his commitment.”

    Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer greets President Donald Trump as he arrives in her state in late April 2025.
    AP Photo/Alex Brandon

    Why unity on carp?

    Whether coordinated or not, the net result of Pritzker’s and Whitmer’s actions drew praise from both sides of the aisle but was little noticed nationally.

    Trump’s support for the project was a rare moment of political unity and an extremely unusual example of leading Democrats being on the same page as Trump. I attribute this surprising outcome to two key factors.

    First, the Great Lakes region holds disproportionate power in presidential elections. Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania have backed the eventual winner in every presidential race for the past 20 years. This swing state power has been used by advocates and state political leaders to drive funding for Great Lakes protection for many years.

    Second, Great Lakes are the uniting force in the region. According to polling from the International Joint Commission, the binational body charged with overseeing waterways that cross the U.S.-Canada border, there is “nearly unanimous support (96%) for the importance of government investment in Great Lakes protections” from residents of the region.

    There aren’t any other issues with such high voter resonance, so politicians want to be sure Great Lakes voters are happy. For example, Vice President JD Vance has been particularly vocal about the Great Lakes. And Great Lakes restoration funding was one of the few things in the presidential budget that Democrats and Republicans agreed on.

    Both Pritzker and Whitmer likely had state-based and national motivations in mind and big aspirations at stake.

    Their combined effort has put the project back on track: As of May 12, 2025, Pritzker authorized Illinois to sign the land-purchase agreement he had paused back in February.

    And perhaps the governors have identified a new area for unity in a divided United States: Conservation and environmental issues have broad public support, particularly when they involve iconic natural resources, shared values and popular outdoor pursuits such as fishing and boating. Even when political strategies diverge, the results can bring bipartisan satisfaction.

    Mike Shriberg was previously the Great Lakes Regional Executive Director of the National Wildlife Federation, which entailed being a co-chair (and, for part of the time, Director) of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition.

    – ref. Invasive carp threaten the Great Lakes − and reveal a surprising twist in national politics – https://theconversation.com/invasive-carp-threaten-the-great-lakes-and-reveal-a-surprising-twist-in-national-politics-257707

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Mexican flags flown during immigration protests bother white people a lot more than other Americans

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Edward D. Vargas, Associate Professor, School of Transborder Studies, Arizona State University

    Protesters wave the Mexican flag in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025. Luke Johnson/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

    Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a series of raids throughout Los Angeles and Southern California in early June 2025, sparking protests in downtown Los Angeles and other cities, including New York, Chicago and Austin, Texas.

    Some demonstrators expressed growing frustration with ICE by showcasing the Mexican flag, which has become the defining symbol of the protests in Los Angeles.

    The use of the flag has also become the subject of intense debate in the media.

    Some outlets have depicted the flag as symbolizing ethnic pride, solidarity with immigrants and opposition to the Trump administration.

    Others have called it the “perfect propaganda” tool for Republicans and conservatives, some of whom have referred to the Mexican flag as the “confederate banner of the L.A. riots.” They point to its use as evidence of anarchy and a city taken over by immigrants.

    But what do Americans think about protesters waving the Mexican flag, and why?

    Much of our knowledge surrounding this question is based on the 2006 immigrant rights protests across the United States, which occurred in a much less politically polarized era. Additionally, a vast majority of protesters then brought U.S. flags compared with other national flags, including the Mexican flag.

    Research published in 2010 found that even though the public was more likely to be bothered by protesters waving the Mexican flag than the U.S. flag, that difference was largely absent once you divided the public into subgroups, including white people, Latinos and immigrants.

    To reexamine public attitudes toward protesters waving the Mexican flag, we conducted an online survey experiment among 10,145 U.S. adults in 2016.

    As political scientists who specialize in Latino politics and immigration-related issues, we tested how exposure to the Mexican flag versus the American flag shaped opinion about protests during Trump’s first presidential campaign in 2016.

    We found that even though much of the public continued to be less bothered by the American flag than the Mexican flag, there were also important and perhaps surprising differences in protest attitudes between white Americans and other racial and ethnic groups.

    A demonstrator holds a Mexican flag in front of law enforcement during a protest on June 13, 2025, in Los Angeles.
    AP Photo/Wally Skalij

    More or less bothered

    In the study, we randomly divided respondents into two groups: a treatment group and a control group. Respondents in the treatment group were shown an image of protesters waving a Mexican flag. Respondents in the control group were shown an image of protesters waving the U.S. flag. After viewing the image, respondents were then asked about the extent to which they supported or were bothered by the protests.

    Overall, 41% of the respondents said they were bothered by protesters waving the Mexican flag, and 28% said protesters waving the U.S. flag bothered them.

    Our results show important differences in opinion between racial and ethnic groups.

    White respondents were more likely than any other racial and ethnic group to say they were bothered by protesters waving Mexican flags. Sixty-nine percent of white respondents said they were bothered, 31 percentage points more than the average of nonwhite respondents.

    However, 51% of white respondents were also bothered by the image of protesters waving U.S. flags. By contrast, just 20% of Latinos, 33% of Black Americans and 34% of Asian Americans said they were bothered by protesters waving U.S. flags.

    Put differently, large majorities of nonwhite respondents were supportive of showing U.S. flags at protests despite their more positive views toward Mexican flags.

    What explains racial differences?

    When taking a deeper look at what causes Americans to feel bothered about protesters waving Mexican flags, some clear patterns emerge.

    On average, older Americans were more likely to be bothered relative to younger Americans. This was particularly true for Americans over 40 years of age compared with millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, and Gen Z respondents, born between 1997 and 2012.

    However, there are some nuances when examining age groups and whether they had attended a protest, march or rally in the previous year.

    Our findings suggest that older Americans who had not engaged in protests were most likely to be bothered when they saw images of protesters waving Mexican flags. Millennials and Gen Z respondents who participated in a protest were least likely to be bothered.

    Given that this issue intersects nationality, race, ethnicity, gender and citizenship status, it’s logical that these factors explained why Americans supported or opposed the use of Mexican flags at immigration protests.

    A woman carrying a flag with details of the United States and Mexican flags walks past members of the United States Marine Corps on June 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
    Cristopher Rogel Blanquet/Getty Images

    For example, racial minorities who have a stronger sense of ethnic or racial identity were more likely to be supportive of protesters waving Mexican and U.S. flags. In other words, group identity is a strong predictor of support for protests in general, regardless of what flag is being flown.

    However, minorities who lack a sense of ethnic pride and identity were most likely to be upset when they saw others expressing their First Amendment right to peaceably assemble.

    The reality is that recent immigration protests across the country are the first time many of the Latino youth who are citizens have participated in these types of protests. Anyone under age 22 would not have memory of, or been alive during, the last large pro-immigrant protests in 2006.

    The Mexican flag represents more than nationalistic pride. It represents their parents’ heritage, hard work and their binational experience as Americans engaged in politics.

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

    – ref. Mexican flags flown during immigration protests bother white people a lot more than other Americans – https://theconversation.com/mexican-flags-flown-during-immigration-protests-bother-white-people-a-lot-more-than-other-americans-259004

    MIL OSI –

  • Djokovic passes Muller test to reach Wimbledon second round

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic was made to work hard after a strong start as he began his bid for a 25th Grand Slam title by beating unseeded Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-1 6-7(7) 6-2 6-2 to reach the second round on Tuesday.

    The sixth seed, who is aiming to equal Roger Federer’s haul at the All England Club and move past Margaret Court in the all-time list of major champions, will take on British wild card Dan Evans in the next round.

    “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I have a chance, to be honest,” Djokovic said.

    “I think I always have a chance, I’ve earned my right to feel I can go all the way to the title. I’ve had arguably the most success of any Grand Slam here in the last decade.

    “It’s just the beginning of the tournament. There are many fantastic players in the draw. I’m going to be playing a Briton in the next round. That’s going to be a tough one, but I look forward to it.

    “I’ve always felt like grass, particularly in the second part of my career, was really the surface where I played my best tennis, so why not do it again?”

    Djokovic, who endured a poor year before lifting his 100th tour-level trophy in Geneva ahead of a run to the semi-finals of the French Open, powered through the opening set against Muller by winning six games on the trot.

    Muller put up much more of a fight in the next set, saving five breakpoints to hold for 4-4 before forcing a tiebreak where he raised his game again to battle from 2-5 down and draw level in the match.

    Djokovic caught his breath when the Centre Court roof was closed and then took a medical timeout early in the third set for a stomach problem, before going up 3-2 with a break after Muller hit his sixth double fault of the match.

    Having wrapped up the third set, Djokovic racked up a 4-2 advantage in the fourth set with an exquisite backhand winner and there was no looking back from there as he completed the victory by holding to love.

    “I went from feeling my absolute best for a set and a half to my absolute worst for about 45 minutes,” Djokovic added.

    “Whether it was a stomach bug, I don’t know what it was, but I just struggled with that. The energy kicked back in after some doctor’s miracle pills.

    “I managed to finish the match on a good note.”

    -Reuters

  • Djokovic passes Muller test to reach Wimbledon second round

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic was made to work hard after a strong start as he began his bid for a 25th Grand Slam title by beating unseeded Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-1 6-7(7) 6-2 6-2 to reach the second round on Tuesday.

    The sixth seed, who is aiming to equal Roger Federer’s haul at the All England Club and move past Margaret Court in the all-time list of major champions, will take on British wild card Dan Evans in the next round.

    “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I have a chance, to be honest,” Djokovic said.

    “I think I always have a chance, I’ve earned my right to feel I can go all the way to the title. I’ve had arguably the most success of any Grand Slam here in the last decade.

    “It’s just the beginning of the tournament. There are many fantastic players in the draw. I’m going to be playing a Briton in the next round. That’s going to be a tough one, but I look forward to it.

    “I’ve always felt like grass, particularly in the second part of my career, was really the surface where I played my best tennis, so why not do it again?”

    Djokovic, who endured a poor year before lifting his 100th tour-level trophy in Geneva ahead of a run to the semi-finals of the French Open, powered through the opening set against Muller by winning six games on the trot.

    Muller put up much more of a fight in the next set, saving five breakpoints to hold for 4-4 before forcing a tiebreak where he raised his game again to battle from 2-5 down and draw level in the match.

    Djokovic caught his breath when the Centre Court roof was closed and then took a medical timeout early in the third set for a stomach problem, before going up 3-2 with a break after Muller hit his sixth double fault of the match.

    Having wrapped up the third set, Djokovic racked up a 4-2 advantage in the fourth set with an exquisite backhand winner and there was no looking back from there as he completed the victory by holding to love.

    “I went from feeling my absolute best for a set and a half to my absolute worst for about 45 minutes,” Djokovic added.

    “Whether it was a stomach bug, I don’t know what it was, but I just struggled with that. The energy kicked back in after some doctor’s miracle pills.

    “I managed to finish the match on a good note.”

    -Reuters

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Unlock Financing through UN Joint SDG Fund, Urges Deputy Secretary-General at Sevilla Conference

    Source: United Nations 4

    Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks at the side event, “Catalysing Change:  Unlocking Impactful Financing at Scale through the UN Joint SDG Fund”, during the Financing for Development Conference in Sevilla, Spain:

    I am delighted to join you today to showcase how the UN Joint SDG Fund is turning the Financing for Development 4 vision into a reality on the ground.  Ten years into the implementation of the 2030 Agenda [for Sustainable Development], we face a stark reality:  while progress on the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals] has delivered for millions, it has not kept pace with the scale of global challenges. The financing gap for the SDGs now exceeds $4 trillion annually, while multiple crises and shifting priorities threaten our collective ambition.

    Delivering on the vision of the 2030 Agenda requires finding and scaling-up innovative solutions.  This is the purpose of the Joint SDG Fund.  The Fund is an innovative and powerful instrument to drive change, break siloed approaches, and unlock financing at scale.

    Since its inception, the Fund has committed over $380 million, enabling a whole-of-UN-system response to pressing challenges.  This commitment has leveraged a further $6.6 billion in contributions from the wider ecosystem of development partners at country level.

    This is a clear demonstration of how finite resources, applied strategically, can crowd-in far greater volumes of capital, and result in far greater impact for the SDGs.

    The secret to the Fund’s success is its innovative approach to financing. Through blended and innovative finance mechanisms — from SDG bonds to energy financing facilities to credit enhancement guarantees — the Fund demonstrates how strategic risk-sharing can attract private capital for sustainable development, while bringing partners together to deliver solutions.

    Consider the following five examples:

    In Indonesia, the Joint SDG Fund supported green and social investments, mobilizing $4.6 billion through specialized bonds that benefited over 7.5 million students and restored 50,000 hectares of mangrove forests.

    In Uruguay, the Renewable Energy Innovation Fund achieved a 1:6 leverage ratio by partnering with seven banks that together account for 80 per cent of the country’s financial sector.

    Kenya’s innovative health financing reached over 1.5 million young people through results-based payment mechanisms working with impact investors.

    North Macedonia’s Green Finance Facility channels resources through six local banks, directing $46.5 million toward environmental projects while supporting women-headed households, Roma communities, and persons with disabilities.  This was achieved in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and others.

    And Zimbabwe’s Renewable Energy Fund showcases how partnerships with private equity funds, such as Old Mutual, can mobilize capital for women and youth-led enterprises in challenging markets.

    These are just a few powerful examples.

    The Fund’s success also stems from its unique positioning within the UN development system, leveraging UN resident coordinators’ convening role and UN country teams’ technical expertise.

    Fundamentally, the Fund represents multilateralism at its most effective — creating a collaborative platform extending beyond the UN system to enable and grow partnerships across the development and finance community.

    But delivering on the Fund’s full potential requires expanded partnership. I call on all Member States, development finance institutions, and private sector partners to deepen engagement with the Fund — not only through financial commitments but through strategic partnerships to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

    Today, we will hear about success stories from Zimbabwe to North Macedonia, from Cabo Verde to Suriname.  These prove that, with the right instruments and partnerships, we can turn global commitments into tangible local transformation.

    The Financing for Development 4 outcome document, the “Sevilla Commitment,” calls for a global SDG investment push.  This is possible by elevating the role of governments in guiding strategic investments; by all development partners, including development banks, working as a system; by removing barriers to private capital; and by ensuring that investments from all partners are designed to deliver the greatest possible impact.

    The Fund stands ready to support and enable this important vision.  With innovation, partnerships, and the catalytic financing that the Joint SDG Fund provides, sustainable development for all remains within our reach.  Let’s get there together.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Person dies following Kumeū serious crash

    Source: New Zealand Police

    One person has died following a serious crash in Kumeū on the night of 27 June.

    An investigation has been underway since Friday night, when a car that had earlier failed to stop for Police crashed on Coatesville-Riverhead Highway at about 8.20pm.

    Four teenagers were hospitalised at the time, with the conditions of three stabilising in recent days.

    Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan says one of the teenagers had been in a critical condition in Auckland City Hospital.

    “Sadly, the teenage male succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday night and passed away in hospital,” she says.

    “This is a tragic development for everyone concerned on top of an incident that has had devastating impacts for these young people.

    “The boy’s next of kin has been advising wider family members overnight, and we are ensuring there is support in place for them.”

    Investigations will continue into the events of Friday night.

    “We are continuing to support our staff who responded courageously on Friday night, and were confronted with a very traumatic scene,” Superintendent Hassan says.

    “It’s important we allow a thorough investigation to be carried out and we expect this may take some time to complete.”

    Police have notified the Independent Police Conduct Authority of the incident as part of this process.

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Brown wins court order blocking Trump administration’s dismantling of Health and Human Services

    Source: Washington State News

    SEATTLE – Washington Attorney General Nick Brown today, along with attorneys general from 19 states, secured a preliminary injunction halting Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s attempt to dismantle the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), ensuring continued access to critical public health and social service programs. On May 5, Washington co-led the coalition states in suing to stop the Trump administration’s sweeping and unlawful directive, which left HHS unable to carry out many of its most vital functions. Today, Judge Melissa R. Dubose of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island blocked the administration’s mass layoffs at several key HHS agencies while the case proceeds.

    “This ruling affirms that Secretary Kennedy can’t abruptly and unlawfully cut off crucial, congressionally mandated health services,” said Brown. “That is the very definition of arbitrary and capricious, not to mention cruel to the federal employees performing those essential services in our states, and the millions of residents relying on them.”

    On March 27, Kennedy announced a sweeping restructuring of HHS. The plan collapsed 28 agencies into 15, terminated 10,000 employees without warning, and left key HHS offices shuttered or in disarray. Many workers learned they were fired only after being locked out of their offices and deactivated from government systems. In its lawsuit, the multistate coalition argued that this unlawful overhaul immediately endangered lives and left crucial programs and systems in chaos. The overhaul cut off federal support for Head Start centers, suspended maternal health data collection, effectively shuttered disease monitoring at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and left miners in the dark on crucial safety and health issues. The administration also terminated the entire team responsible for updating federal poverty guidelines – a tool used to determine eligibility for programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and housing assistance.

    Today, DuBose granted the states’ request for a preliminary injunction, blocking further implementation of the restructuring and stopping the termination of employees across four critical offices:

    • The CDC, including the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health;
    • The Center for Tobacco Products;
    • The Office of Head Start; and
    • The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

    As DuBose recognized, “the record is completely devoid of any evidence that the Defendants have performed any research on the repercussions of issuing and executing the plans announced in the Communiqué. Without a modicum of evidence to the contrary, the record shows that the Defendants did not consider the ‘substantial harms and reliance interests’ of the States and the devastating consequences that would be felt by the populations served by those critical health programs.” DuBose correctly noted that “Congress never meant to confer HHS the power to self-destruct.”

    Joining Brown in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of New York, Rhode Island, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

    A copy of the complaint is available here.

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statewide hate crimes and bias incidents hotline now active in Clark, King, and Spokane counties

    Source: Washington State News

    SEATTLE — Today Washington launches a hate crimes and bias incidents hotline pilot in three counties across the state. According to the FBI’s hate crimes statistics, Washington has been in the top five states with the most reported hate crimes since 2018. The non-emergency hotline provides people in Clark, King, and Spokane counties an alternative way to report hate crimes or bias incidents.

    Hate crimes and incidents of bias have a devastating and long-lasting impact on individuals, families, and communities, making people feel unwelcome or unsafe where they live. Hotline staff will help callers find local, culturally competent, victim-centered, and trauma-informed support services and, with consent of the caller, can assist in reporting incidents to local law enforcement.

    The hotline is available by calling 1-855-225-1010. Anyone who wants to report a hate crime or bias incident in the three pilot counties can also visit atg.wa.gov/report-hate.

    The Legislature created the hotline in 2024 when it adopted Senate Bill 5427 with bipartisan support. The bill required a pilot program, managed by the Attorney General’s Office, for the hotline in three counties in Washington state — including one in eastern Washington. The three counties were chosen based on hate crimes data available in the 2023 Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs’ Annual Crime Report and the counties’ demographics.

    The pilot program will remain active for a year and a half, then the hotline will launch statewide by January 2027. Hate crimes and bias incidents are underreported, and data about their prevalence is limited. Beginning July 1, 2027, the Attorney General’s Office will produce an annual report describing the data collected from hotline reports for the governor, state Legislature, and public regarding hate crimes and bias incidents. 

    “Hate crimes not only directly harm individuals but also can instill harm throughout the community,” Attorney General Nick Brown said. “Success in these three counties will help us expand the hotline statewide and better understand how to combat hate crimes and bias incidents across Washington.”

    Members of the advisory group and local officials offered the following statements on the launch of the hotline pilot:

    “We took an important step in 2019 by changing our hate crime laws — but the rise in hate and bias incidents shows there’s still more to do,” said Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, who sponsored the legislation creating the hotline. “That’s why this hotline matters. It’s not just about policy — it’s about people. It’s about making sure every victim is heard and supported.”

    “At a time when a hostile federal administration is fueling bigotry against vulnerable communities, many in King County are living in fear and uncertainty,” said King County Council Chair Girmay Zahilay. “I am proud to join the Attorney General’s Office in this initiative and grateful to the community leaders who’ve contributed to this launch. Together, we will continue to stand united against hate.”

    “Spokane welcomes the launch of the new Hate Crimes & Bias Incidents Hotline and is proud to be one of three original test locations,” said Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown. “Our Office of Civil Rights, Equity, and Inclusion has been engaged with the Attorney General’s team through its development, and we see this as a vital tool to improve reporting and ensure accountability throughout our community.”

    “I am proud that Spokane county is leading the way by piloting the Hate Crimes Hotline program,” said Spokane County Commissioner Amber Waldref. “I’m hopeful this tool will create a new opportunity for residents to report potential hate crimes to ensure the safety and security of everyone in our community.”

    “This hotline is an important step toward ensuring people feel safe reporting hate crimes,” said Clark County Sheriff John Horch. “We want everyone in our community to know that their voice matters, and that help is available.”

    “The Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community has experienced hate crimes and bias incidents for hundreds of years and that was amplified during the height of the pandemic,” said Thanh Tran, co-chair of the HAPPEN Business Resource Group. “These incidents continue to occur every day, with little to no mention in the mainstream news. I’m hopeful this hotline will encourage victims to report these incidents so we can empower the community and move towards justice and healing.”

    “The hotline is critically important because it acknowledges what our communities have always known: that hate doesn’t only exist in the narrow legal definitions that require physical harm or property damage,” said Catalina Velasquez, executive director of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network. “When immigrant families in my network face verbal harassment that makes them afraid to send their children to school, when transgender people of color experience daily microaggressions that chip away at their humanity, when our elders are told to ‘go back where they came from’ — these are acts of violence that shape our material conditions and our ability to exist safely in the world. The hotline creates space for these experiences to be documented, believed, and responded to with culturally competent, trauma-informed care.”

    “I expect that the hotline will allow victims of hate to feel like they have support in their local communities,” said Hershel Zellman, board member of Human Rights Spokane. “I also expect the statistics gathered by the hotline will be used to create educational programming and law enforcement strategies for mitigating the occurrence of hate in the first place.”

    “We hope that this hotline will provide culturally competent support, build trust with the Muslim community, and encourage more community members to report incidents,” said Sabrene Odeh, a legal advocate with the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington state. “We hope that it will allow for better understanding of Islamophobia, improve the accuracy of future community facing programs and initiatives, and provide the support that resonates with our community members. Representation of the Muslim community in the development and implementation of this hotline reinforces the message that the safety of Muslims is prioritized and valued.”

    “Our organization is a trusted messenger of the community we serve,” said Momodou Jobe, programs director of the Washington West African Center. “Our voice comes from what our community tells us and our participation developing the hotline brought our community’s voices into the room.”

    “Too many in the Jewish community are grappling with the effects of growing antisemitism and need increased resources and services,” said Miri Cypers, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League in the Pacific Northwest. “From our youngest struggling with bias incidents in K-12 schools to community institutions facing threats, the hotline will provide culturally sensitive support.”

    “The Sikh community stands firmly for justice and equality for all,” said Jasmit Singh, executive director of the Khalsa Gurmat Center. “We commend the establishment of the hotline as a crucial mechanism for those who have experienced prejudice or hate to have their voices heard and for incidents to be addressed. This hotline empowers communities and reinforces the message that hate has no home in Washington state.” 

    For more information on Washington’s hate crimes and bias incidents hotline, visit atg.wa.gov/report-hate. 

    Definitions

    Washington law defines a hate crime as assault, property damage or threats to cause injury or property damage that is committed because of the perception of a person’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, or disability.

    Bias incidents are acts of prejudice that are not criminal in nature and do not involve violence, threats, or property damage. While bias incident cannot be criminally charged, they are important to report.

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Trump says US could reach trade deal with India, casts doubt on deal with Japan

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The United States could reach a trade deal with India that would help American companies compete in the South Asian country and leave it facing far lower tariffs, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, while casting doubt on a possible deal with Japan.

    Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he believed India was ready to lower barriers for U.S. companies, which could pave the way for an agreement staving off the 26% rate he announced on April 2, before pausing it until July 9.

    “Right now, India doesn’t accept anybody in. I think India is going to do that, if they do that, we’re going to have a deal for less, much less tariffs,” he said.

    Earlier, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that the U.S. and India are nearing a deal that would lower tariffs on American imports to the South Asian country and help India avoid levies from rising sharply next week.

    “We are very close with India,” Bessent told Fox News in response to a question about progress on trade negotiations.

    India is one of more than a dozen countries actively negotiating with the Trump administration to try to avoid a steep spike in tariff rates on July 9, when a 90-day tariff pause ends. India could see its new “reciprocal” tariff rate rise to 27% from the current 10%.

    The U.S.-India talks have hit roadblocks over disagreements on import duties for auto components, steel, and farm goods, ahead of Trump’s deadline to impose reciprocal tariffs.

    “We are in the middle — hopefully more than the middle — of a very intricate trade negotiation,” Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar told an event in New York on Monday.

    “Obviously, my hope would be that we bring it to a successful conclusion. I cannot guarantee it, because there’s another party to that discussion,” said Jaishankar, who is currently in the U.S. 

    He added that there “will have to be give and take” and the two sides will have to find middle ground.

    TRUMP SUGGESTS HIGHER TARIFF FOR JAPAN

    Bessent told Fox News that different countries have different agendas for trade deals, including Japan, which Trump complained about on Monday and again on Tuesday.

    Trump said he was not thinking of extending the July 9 deadline and would simply send letters notifying countries of the tariff rate they would face.

    “We’ve dealt with Japan. I’m not sure we’re going to make a deal. I doubt it,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington from a trip to Florida.

    Trump suggested he could impose a tariff of 30% or 35% on imports from Japan – well above the 24% tariff rate he announced on April 2 and then paused until July 9.

    He said Japan was refusing to accept U.S.-grown rice, a demand made by Washington that he described as “an easy one,” while selling millions of cars in the United States.

    “So what I’m going to do, is I’ll write them a letter saying we thank you very much, and we know you can’t do the kind of things that we need, and therefore you pay a 30%, 35% or whatever the numbers that we determine,” he said. So far, only Britain has negotiated a limited trade deal with the Trump administration, accepting a 10% U.S. tariff on many goods, including autos, in exchange for special access for aircraft engines and British beef.

    (REUTERS)

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Retail – Woolworths New Zealand recalls 18% Fat Beef Mince 1kg and 500g sold in the North Island

    Source: Woolworths NZ

    Woolworths New Zealand is recalling Woolworths branded 18% Fat Beef Mince 500g and 1kg sold at Woolworths and Countdown stores in the North Island with the Best Before date of 05/07/2025.

    This recall is due to the potential presence of plastic.

    Any customer who has bought these products should not eat them, and is asked to return the product to their nearest store for a full refund.

    There have been no reports of illness or injury, however anyone who has consumed any of these products and has any concerns about their health, should seek medical advice.

    Woolworths New Zealand takes food safety very seriously and we apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused by this recall. 

    No other beef products are impacted by this recall. 

    Customers can call Woolworths’ Customer Care team for more information on 0800 40 40 40.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Business Confidence Remains Stationary Despite Early Optimism

    Source: Business Canterbury

    Canterbury businesses confidence is levelling off, according to Business Canterbury’s latest Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey. Despite reaching a high point in December last year, business confidence has not continued its upward trajectory in 2025 as many had hoped.
    Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson says, “Business confidence has rebounded significantly since this time last year, but the early optimism late last year hasn’t continued its upward trajectory into 2025, with consumer confidence and demand being slower to rebound than anticipated and continued geopolitical instability taking its toll.”
    “However, while our businesses aren’t getting more confident each quarter, it’s still generally positive out there.
    “When we look at the key indicators, 59% of businesses are expecting to hire staff within the next 12 months and similarly, those expecting to invest in property, plant and equipment sits at 60%, compared to 57% last quarter.
    “So, while the current environment could be described as stationary, it is by no means gloomy.
    “We are seeing different levels of market recovery across different sectors, with businesses falling into three distinct categories: those making significant headway in growth, those in recovery mode but not yet ready to expand, and a sizeable group still struggling with challenging decisions about their future.
    “The big challenges haven’t shifted much, we’re still hearing concerns around consumer confidence and demand, productivity and growth, inflation and interest rates, cashflow, and compliance costs.
    “These remain front of mind for many of our members and the wider business community, and despite drops in the OCR, we are yet to see the full impact of these with many still on fixed rates locked in over the last two years, which is also impacting sticky consumer confidence and demand.
    “Canterbury is positioned well to grow quickly when the market turns. Canterbury is the place to be, and people want to be part of our growth story. Since 2018, over 40,000 people have moved to Canterbury from other parts of New Zealand.”
    “Our regional economy is also highly diversified, 5 th compared to Auckland at 11 th and Wellington at 14 th – contributing to business resilience here, with 82% reporting confidence in their ability to manage disruption.
    About Business Canterbury
    Business Canterbury, formerly Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, is the largest business support agency in the South Island and advocates on behalf of its members for an environment more favourable to innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Press Conference by Security Council President on Programme of Work for July

    Source: United Nations 4

    The Security Council will convene its signature event on 22 July — a high-level open debate on promoting international peace and security through multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of disputes — the Council’s President for the month said at a United Nations Headquarters press conference today.

    Asim Iftikhar Ahmad (Pakistan), who holds the 15-member organ’s rotating presidency for this month, said the open debate — held under the overarching theme of maintaining international peace and security — will be chaired by his country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The Secretary-General is expected to brief the Council.  “The debate stems from the fact that today’s crises often emerge from unresolved disputes, erosion of international obligations and underutilization of peaceful means enshrined in the Charter,” he said.  The discussion will examine the effectiveness of existing dispute settlement mechanisms, identify barriers to implementing Council resolutions and explore ways to strengthen preventive diplomacy, mediation and technical support.  It will also reaffirm the commitments made in the Pact for the Future towards preventive diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

    The Council will further hold a signature event on “Cooperation between the UN and regional and subregional organizations”, chaired also by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs.  It will spotlight UN’s engagement with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which represents 57 member States across four continents and has played an increasingly important role in conflict prevention and mediation, humanitarian response and post-conflict recovery.  This meeting will explore ways to institutionalize and deepen this cooperation, particularly in relation to peace processes in various contexts.

    On 23 July, the Council will hold its quarterly open debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, which will be elevated to the ministerial level.  The meeting will reaffirm the Council’s responsibility to protect civilians, uphold international humanitarian law and push for an immediate ceasefire, along with just and lasting solutions based on UN resolutions concerning the Palestinian question.

    Throughout July, the Council will consider several country-specific and thematic issues, primarily through mandated briefings and situational updates.  These will include discussions on Colombia, Haiti, Cyprus, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and the International Criminal Court, as well as consultations on Lebanon within the framework of resolution 1701 (2006).  The President of the Security Council reaffirmed his readiness to convene additional meetings should developments on the ground — particularly in Africa, the Middle East or Asia — warrant timely engagement.  On 29 July, the Council will also hold a briefing on UN Peace Operations, in the context of the Secretary-General’s ongoing review.

    “We are committed to an open and consultative Presidency,” he stated, outlining the Council’s working methods, which are grounded in transparency, inclusivity and close coordination among all 15 members.  He noted that the Council remains alert and responsive to global developments, with a particular focus on conflict zones such as in the Middle East, Africa, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    He also responded to several questions posed by media correspondents, many of which concerned the situation in Gaza.  In his national capacity, he said the objective of the draft resolution — jointly proposed by China, the Russian Federation and his own country — is to achieve a ceasefire to the conflict. 

    In response to a question about the future role of Hamas in Gaza, he emphasized that this is an intra-Palestinian matter that “should be left to the Palestinians [themselves]”.

    Addressing a query about the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Children and Armed Conflict’s recent report on children in Gaza, which the reporter described as “unfair”, he stressed that mandates such as children and armed conflict must be upheld universally and without selectivity. “[By] failing to do that, […] we are undermining these important mandates,” he warned.

    On the conflict between Israel and Iran, he spoke in his national capacity to reaffirm Pakistan’s principled position, grounded in international law and the Charter of the United Nations.  He noted that some discussions have deviated from Iran’s legitimate rights, highlighting that Tehran remains a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.  “The best way to address the Iranian nuclear issue in all its complexity is through dialogue and diplomacy,” he said.  However, he added, this path was seriously disrupted by the recent attacks, while expressing hope that “a window of opportunity” still exists to resume dialogue and reach a conclusive resolution in accordance with international law.

    Regarding the UN’s cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, he pointed to OIC’s growing role in areas such as counter-terrorism, counter-extremism and humanitarian affairs.  He emphasized the importance of deepening engagement between OIC and the Security Council.

    When asked about how the issue of Kashmir could be addressed in the Council, he responded in his national capacity that the dispute remains unresolved and continues to be a source of tension between India and Pakistan, hindering broader regional relations.  He emphasized that it is the Council’s responsibility — especially that of its permanent members — to take meaningful steps towards implementing their own resolutions.

    For the full programme of work, please see:  https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/programme-work.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • US Senate passes Trump’s sweeping tax-and spending bill, setting up House battle

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. Senate Republicans passed President Donald Trump’s massive tax-and-spending bill on Tuesday by the narrowest of margins, advancing a package that would slash taxes, reduce social safety net programs and boost military and immigration enforcement spending while adding $3.3 trillion to the national debt.

    The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for possible final approval, though a handful of Republicans there have already voiced opposition to some of the Senate provisions. Trump wants to sign it into law by the July 4 Independence Day holiday, and House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement that he aimed to meet that deadline.

    The measure would extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, give new tax breaks for income from tips and overtime pay and increase spending on the military and immigration enforcement. It also would cut about $930 billion of spending on the Medicaid health program and food aid for low-income Americans and repeal many of Democratic former President Joe Biden’s green-energy incentives.

    The legislation, which has exposed Republican divides over the nation’s fast-growing $36.2 trillion debt, would raise the federal government’s self-imposed debt ceiling by $5 trillion. Congress must raise the cap in the coming months or risk a devastating default.

    The Senate passed the measure in a 51-50 vote with Vice President JD Vance breaking a tie after three Republicans – Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky – joined all 47 Democrats in voting against the bill.

    The vote followed an all-night debate in which Republicans grappled with the bill’s price tag and its impact on the U.S. healthcare system.

    Much of the late horse-trading was aimed at winning over Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who had signaled she would vote against the bill without significant alterations.

    The final Senate bill included two provisions that helped secure her vote: one that sends more food-aid funding to Alaska and several other states, and another providing $50 billion to help rural hospitals cope with the sweeping cuts to Medicaid.

    Following the vote, Murkowski issued a statement calling it one of the hardest of her Senate career said she had voted yes despite some continued reservations.

    “This has been an awful process — a frantic rush to meet an artificial deadline that has tested every limit of this institution,” she said. “This bill needs more work across chambers and is not ready for the President’s desk.”

    ‘NOT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY’

    The vote in the House, where Republicans hold a 220-212 majority, is likely to be close.

    A White House official told reporters that Trump would be “deeply involved” in pushing House Republicans to approve the bill.

    “It’s a great bill. There is something for everyone,” Trump said at an event in Florida on Tuesday. “And I think it’s going to go very nicely in the House.”

    An initial version passed with only two votes to spare in May, and several House Republicans have said they do not support the Senate version, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates will add $800 billion more to the national debt than the House version.

    Republicans have struggled to balance conservatives’ demands for deeper spending cuts to reduce the impact on the deficit with moderate lawmakers’ concerns that the Medicaid cuts could hurt their constituents, including service cutbacks in rural areas.

    The House Freedom Caucus, a group of hardline conservatives who repeatedly threatened to withhold their support for the tax bill, has criticized the Senate version’s price tag.

    “There’s a significant number who are concerned,” Republican Representative Chip Roy, a member of the Freedom Caucus, said of the Senate bill.

    A group of more moderate House Republicans, especially those who represent lower-income areas, have objected to the steeper Medicaid cuts in the Senate’s plan.

    Meanwhile, Republicans have faced separate concerns from a handful of House Republicans from high-tax states, including New York, New Jersey and California, who have demanded a larger tax break for state and local tax payments.

    The legislation has also drawn criticism from billionaire Elon Musk, the former Trump ally who has railed against the bill’s enormous cost and vowed to back challengers to Republican lawmakers in next year’s midterm elections.

    House Democrats are expected to remain unanimously opposed to the bill.

    “This is the largest assault on American healthcare in history,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters. “It’s the largest assault on nutrition in American history.”

    TAX BREAKS, IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN, TIGHTER BENEFITS

    The Senate bill would deliver some of its biggest benefits to the top 1% of U.S. households, earning $663,000 or more in 2025, according to the Tax Foundation. These high earners would gain the most from the bill’s tax cuts, the CBO has said.

    Independent analysts have said the bill’s tightening of eligibility for food and health safety net programs would effectively reduce poor Americans’ incomes and increase their costs for food and healthcare. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office forecast that nearly 12 million more people would become uninsured under the Senate plan.

    The bill’s increase in the national debt effectively serves as a wealth transfer from younger to older Americans, nonpartisan analysts have said.

    Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the vote “covered this chamber in shame,” adding that the bill would be “ripping health care away from millions of Americans, taking the food out of the mouths of hungry kids.”

    Republicans rejected the cost estimate generated by the CBO’s longstanding methodology and have argued the Medicaid cuts would only root out “waste, fraud and abuse” from the system.

    Following the vote, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the bill “will permanently extend tax relief for hard-working Americans…that will spur economic growth and more jobs and opportunities for American workers.”

    -REUTERS

  • US Senate passes Trump’s sweeping tax-and spending bill, setting up House battle

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. Senate Republicans passed President Donald Trump’s massive tax-and-spending bill on Tuesday by the narrowest of margins, advancing a package that would slash taxes, reduce social safety net programs and boost military and immigration enforcement spending while adding $3.3 trillion to the national debt.

    The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for possible final approval, though a handful of Republicans there have already voiced opposition to some of the Senate provisions. Trump wants to sign it into law by the July 4 Independence Day holiday, and House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement that he aimed to meet that deadline.

    The measure would extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, give new tax breaks for income from tips and overtime pay and increase spending on the military and immigration enforcement. It also would cut about $930 billion of spending on the Medicaid health program and food aid for low-income Americans and repeal many of Democratic former President Joe Biden’s green-energy incentives.

    The legislation, which has exposed Republican divides over the nation’s fast-growing $36.2 trillion debt, would raise the federal government’s self-imposed debt ceiling by $5 trillion. Congress must raise the cap in the coming months or risk a devastating default.

    The Senate passed the measure in a 51-50 vote with Vice President JD Vance breaking a tie after three Republicans – Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky – joined all 47 Democrats in voting against the bill.

    The vote followed an all-night debate in which Republicans grappled with the bill’s price tag and its impact on the U.S. healthcare system.

    Much of the late horse-trading was aimed at winning over Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who had signaled she would vote against the bill without significant alterations.

    The final Senate bill included two provisions that helped secure her vote: one that sends more food-aid funding to Alaska and several other states, and another providing $50 billion to help rural hospitals cope with the sweeping cuts to Medicaid.

    Following the vote, Murkowski issued a statement calling it one of the hardest of her Senate career said she had voted yes despite some continued reservations.

    “This has been an awful process — a frantic rush to meet an artificial deadline that has tested every limit of this institution,” she said. “This bill needs more work across chambers and is not ready for the President’s desk.”

    ‘NOT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY’

    The vote in the House, where Republicans hold a 220-212 majority, is likely to be close.

    A White House official told reporters that Trump would be “deeply involved” in pushing House Republicans to approve the bill.

    “It’s a great bill. There is something for everyone,” Trump said at an event in Florida on Tuesday. “And I think it’s going to go very nicely in the House.”

    An initial version passed with only two votes to spare in May, and several House Republicans have said they do not support the Senate version, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates will add $800 billion more to the national debt than the House version.

    Republicans have struggled to balance conservatives’ demands for deeper spending cuts to reduce the impact on the deficit with moderate lawmakers’ concerns that the Medicaid cuts could hurt their constituents, including service cutbacks in rural areas.

    The House Freedom Caucus, a group of hardline conservatives who repeatedly threatened to withhold their support for the tax bill, has criticized the Senate version’s price tag.

    “There’s a significant number who are concerned,” Republican Representative Chip Roy, a member of the Freedom Caucus, said of the Senate bill.

    A group of more moderate House Republicans, especially those who represent lower-income areas, have objected to the steeper Medicaid cuts in the Senate’s plan.

    Meanwhile, Republicans have faced separate concerns from a handful of House Republicans from high-tax states, including New York, New Jersey and California, who have demanded a larger tax break for state and local tax payments.

    The legislation has also drawn criticism from billionaire Elon Musk, the former Trump ally who has railed against the bill’s enormous cost and vowed to back challengers to Republican lawmakers in next year’s midterm elections.

    House Democrats are expected to remain unanimously opposed to the bill.

    “This is the largest assault on American healthcare in history,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters. “It’s the largest assault on nutrition in American history.”

    TAX BREAKS, IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN, TIGHTER BENEFITS

    The Senate bill would deliver some of its biggest benefits to the top 1% of U.S. households, earning $663,000 or more in 2025, according to the Tax Foundation. These high earners would gain the most from the bill’s tax cuts, the CBO has said.

    Independent analysts have said the bill’s tightening of eligibility for food and health safety net programs would effectively reduce poor Americans’ incomes and increase their costs for food and healthcare. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office forecast that nearly 12 million more people would become uninsured under the Senate plan.

    The bill’s increase in the national debt effectively serves as a wealth transfer from younger to older Americans, nonpartisan analysts have said.

    Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the vote “covered this chamber in shame,” adding that the bill would be “ripping health care away from millions of Americans, taking the food out of the mouths of hungry kids.”

    Republicans rejected the cost estimate generated by the CBO’s longstanding methodology and have argued the Medicaid cuts would only root out “waste, fraud and abuse” from the system.

    Following the vote, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the bill “will permanently extend tax relief for hard-working Americans…that will spur economic growth and more jobs and opportunities for American workers.”

    -REUTERS

  • US Senate passes Trump’s sweeping tax-and spending bill, setting up House battle

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. Senate Republicans passed President Donald Trump’s massive tax-and-spending bill on Tuesday by the narrowest of margins, advancing a package that would slash taxes, reduce social safety net programs and boost military and immigration enforcement spending while adding $3.3 trillion to the national debt.

    The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for possible final approval, though a handful of Republicans there have already voiced opposition to some of the Senate provisions. Trump wants to sign it into law by the July 4 Independence Day holiday, and House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement that he aimed to meet that deadline.

    The measure would extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, give new tax breaks for income from tips and overtime pay and increase spending on the military and immigration enforcement. It also would cut about $930 billion of spending on the Medicaid health program and food aid for low-income Americans and repeal many of Democratic former President Joe Biden’s green-energy incentives.

    The legislation, which has exposed Republican divides over the nation’s fast-growing $36.2 trillion debt, would raise the federal government’s self-imposed debt ceiling by $5 trillion. Congress must raise the cap in the coming months or risk a devastating default.

    The Senate passed the measure in a 51-50 vote with Vice President JD Vance breaking a tie after three Republicans – Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky – joined all 47 Democrats in voting against the bill.

    The vote followed an all-night debate in which Republicans grappled with the bill’s price tag and its impact on the U.S. healthcare system.

    Much of the late horse-trading was aimed at winning over Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who had signaled she would vote against the bill without significant alterations.

    The final Senate bill included two provisions that helped secure her vote: one that sends more food-aid funding to Alaska and several other states, and another providing $50 billion to help rural hospitals cope with the sweeping cuts to Medicaid.

    Following the vote, Murkowski issued a statement calling it one of the hardest of her Senate career said she had voted yes despite some continued reservations.

    “This has been an awful process — a frantic rush to meet an artificial deadline that has tested every limit of this institution,” she said. “This bill needs more work across chambers and is not ready for the President’s desk.”

    ‘NOT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY’

    The vote in the House, where Republicans hold a 220-212 majority, is likely to be close.

    A White House official told reporters that Trump would be “deeply involved” in pushing House Republicans to approve the bill.

    “It’s a great bill. There is something for everyone,” Trump said at an event in Florida on Tuesday. “And I think it’s going to go very nicely in the House.”

    An initial version passed with only two votes to spare in May, and several House Republicans have said they do not support the Senate version, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates will add $800 billion more to the national debt than the House version.

    Republicans have struggled to balance conservatives’ demands for deeper spending cuts to reduce the impact on the deficit with moderate lawmakers’ concerns that the Medicaid cuts could hurt their constituents, including service cutbacks in rural areas.

    The House Freedom Caucus, a group of hardline conservatives who repeatedly threatened to withhold their support for the tax bill, has criticized the Senate version’s price tag.

    “There’s a significant number who are concerned,” Republican Representative Chip Roy, a member of the Freedom Caucus, said of the Senate bill.

    A group of more moderate House Republicans, especially those who represent lower-income areas, have objected to the steeper Medicaid cuts in the Senate’s plan.

    Meanwhile, Republicans have faced separate concerns from a handful of House Republicans from high-tax states, including New York, New Jersey and California, who have demanded a larger tax break for state and local tax payments.

    The legislation has also drawn criticism from billionaire Elon Musk, the former Trump ally who has railed against the bill’s enormous cost and vowed to back challengers to Republican lawmakers in next year’s midterm elections.

    House Democrats are expected to remain unanimously opposed to the bill.

    “This is the largest assault on American healthcare in history,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters. “It’s the largest assault on nutrition in American history.”

    TAX BREAKS, IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN, TIGHTER BENEFITS

    The Senate bill would deliver some of its biggest benefits to the top 1% of U.S. households, earning $663,000 or more in 2025, according to the Tax Foundation. These high earners would gain the most from the bill’s tax cuts, the CBO has said.

    Independent analysts have said the bill’s tightening of eligibility for food and health safety net programs would effectively reduce poor Americans’ incomes and increase their costs for food and healthcare. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office forecast that nearly 12 million more people would become uninsured under the Senate plan.

    The bill’s increase in the national debt effectively serves as a wealth transfer from younger to older Americans, nonpartisan analysts have said.

    Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the vote “covered this chamber in shame,” adding that the bill would be “ripping health care away from millions of Americans, taking the food out of the mouths of hungry kids.”

    Republicans rejected the cost estimate generated by the CBO’s longstanding methodology and have argued the Medicaid cuts would only root out “waste, fraud and abuse” from the system.

    Following the vote, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the bill “will permanently extend tax relief for hard-working Americans…that will spur economic growth and more jobs and opportunities for American workers.”

    -REUTERS

  • Amit Shah hails new criminal laws as India marks ‘A Golden Year of Trust in the Justice System’

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s new criminal laws mark the beginning of a new era of affordable, accessible, and transparent justice, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday, addressing a gathering in the capital to celebrate “A Golden Year of Trust in the Justice System.”

    Lieutenant Governor of Delhi V.K. Saxena, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and Director of the Intelligence Bureau were among the dignitaries present at the event.

    An exhibition on the new criminal laws was also inaugurated on the occasion. Shah noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier directed that this exhibition be organized across all states so that journalists, senior police officers, bar associations, judicial officers, and especially students could understand the new legal framework.

    Speaking at the event, Shah said the three new criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023—are designed to make justice more citizen-centric. He said the new laws would replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and Indian Evidence Act with modern legislation created from an Indian perspective.

    “The old laws were made by the British Parliament to prolong their rule. The new laws have been framed under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, by a government elected by the people, for the welfare of the people,” Shah said.

    The Home Minister underlined that the new laws are aimed at ensuring timely delivery of justice, with strict timelines prescribed for investigation, charge-sheeting, framing of charges, and delivery of judgments. “Earlier, no one knew when justice would be delivered. Now, the system is being overhauled to guarantee time-bound justice, from the FIR stage to the Supreme Court,” he added.

    Shah said the laws incorporate technology-driven measures, inspired by the study of judicial systems in nearly 89 countries, to strengthen investigation and trial processes. Forensic examination is now mandatory for crimes carrying a punishment of seven years or more. Systems like the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) and DNA matching in POCSO cases have also been put in place to ensure offenders do not escape conviction.

    Highlighting the government’s preparedness, Shah said nearly 15 lakh police personnel, over 19,000 judicial officers, more than 42,000 prison staff, and over 11,000 public prosecutors have been trained in the past year. Delhi was acknowledged as the best-performing state in implementing the new laws swiftly.

    The Home Minister said that a separate chapter on crimes against women and children has been included for the first time. The laws now define terrorism and organised crime, with stricter provisions for punishment. A new post of Director of Prosecution has also been created to strengthen the prosecution system and raise the conviction rate.

    Shah added that the successful implementation of the new criminal justice system will depend not only on the police or the Home Ministry, but also on public awareness and understanding of their rights. He described the reforms as the biggest since Independence, calling them a “golden opportunity” for India’s Nyay Yatra towards a transparent, citizen-centric, and time-bound system of justice.

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Homicide investigation underway, Freeman’s Bay

    Source: New Zealand Police

    A homicide investigation has been launched following the discovery of a body on Renall Street, Freeman’s Bay last night.

    Auckland City CIB’s Detective Inspector Scott Beard says Police discovered the deceased around 10pm.

    “Police are continuing to gather information from the scene and enquires into the exact circumstances surrounding what has occurred are ongoing.”

    A person is in custody and Police are not looking for anyone else in connection at this stage.

    Detective Inspector Beard says a scene examination is under way at the address and there will be an increased Police presence in the area while the investigation continues.

    “Members of the public can be assured there is no risk to public safety.”

    A post-mortem will be carried out in due course.

    If you have any information that could assist the investigation, please make a report via 105, using the file number 250630/9878 and quote ‘Operation Yarrow’.

    Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-nz.org.

    Further information will be provided when we are able to do so.

    ENDS.

    Amanda Wieneke/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: FINDMINING: Seize the XRP ETF Craze and Unlock New Cloud Mining Opportunities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With Bloomberg analysts raising the probability of approval for a Ripple (XRP) spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) to an impressive 95%, global crypto market sentiment is surging as institutional investors face an unprecedented opportunity to enter the market. As the world’s leading cryptocurrency cloud mining platform, FINDMINING has announced plans to expand its services and computing resources to help global users capture the opportunities brought by this ETF boom.

    Bloomberg ETF analysts James Seyffart and Eric Balchunas recently stated on social media that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sent positive signals regarding various crypto assets, including XRP. The potential approval of an XRP ETF would not only reshape the crypto market ecosystem but is also expected to drive further institutional adoption of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other mainstream digital currencies.

    Against this backdrop, FINDMINING is rapidly deploying additional data centers and green energy computing power to lower the barrier for global users to participate in digital asset mining. Users no longer need to purchase expensive mining hardware or handle complex maintenance. Instead, they can easily participate in multi-currency mining — including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple — by renting cloud computing power with just one click, and seize blockchain wealth opportunities in real time.

    Ibrahim Aydin, Chief Operating Officer of FINDMINING, said:

    “If the XRP ETF is approved, it will attract massive institutional capital and liquidity into the market, and both mining and holding income are expected to benefit significantly. FINDMINING will continue to provide stable and efficient cloud computing services to help users navigate the next bull market cycle.”

    To celebrate the positive developments surrounding the XRP ETF, FINDMINING has launched a special promotion: the “XRP ETF Special Cloud Computing Package.” From now on, both new and existing users can enjoy limited-time discounts and additional computing power rewards. The package supports flexible multi-currency mining and intelligently switches to the on-chain assets with the best returns, maximizing mining profits for all users.

    As global crypto regulations become clearer and institutional participation continues to grow, FINDMINING remains committed to leveraging its professional technical expertise and transparent operating model to make cloud mining accessible to a broader mainstream investor community — sharing in the dividends of the new era of the digital economy together with its users.

    About FINDMINING
    FINDMINING is the world’s leading cryptocurrency cloud mining platform, dedicated to providing users with low-threshold, highly transparent computing power leasing and hosting services. The company operates green energy data centers in North America, Europe, and Asia, and has provided safe and stable mining solutions to over 9.4 million registered users worldwide.
    For more information, visit FINDMINING

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Horizon Bancorp, Inc. Announces Conference Call to Review Second Quarter Results on July 24

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (NASDAQ GS: HBNC) – Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (“Horizon” or the “Company”) will host a conference call at 7:30 a.m. CT on Thursday, July 24, 2025 to review its second quarter 2025 financial results.

    The Company’s second quarter 2025 news release will be published after markets close on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. It will be available at investor.horizonbank.com.

    Participants may access the live conference call on July 24, 2025 at 7:30 a.m. CT (8:30 a.m. ET) by dialing 833-974-2379 from the United States, 866-450-4696 from Canada, or 412-317-5772 from international locations and requesting the “Horizon Bancorp Call.” Please dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to the call.

    A telephone replay of the call will be available approximately one hour after the end of the conference call through August 1, 2025. The telephone replay may be accessed by dialing 877-344-7529 from the United States, 855-669-9658 from Canada, or 412-317-0088 from other international locations and entering the access code 5878909.

    About Horizon Bancorp, Inc.

    Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: HBNC) is the $7.6 billion-asset commercial bank holding company for Horizon Bank, which serves customers across diverse and economically attractive Midwestern markets through convenient digital and virtual tools, as well as its Indiana and Michigan branches. Horizon’s retail offerings include prime residential and other secured consumer lending to in-market customers, as well as a range of personal banking and wealth management solutions. Horizon also provides a comprehensive array of in-market business banking and treasury management services, as well as equipment financing solutions for customers regionally and nationally, with commercial lending representing over half of total loans. More information on Horizon, headquartered in Northwest Indiana’s Michigan City, is available at horizonbank.com and investor.horizonbank.com.

       
    Contact: Mark E. Secor
      Chief Administration Officer
    Phone: 219-873-2611
    Date: July 1, 2025

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Horizon Bancorp, Inc. Announces Conference Call to Review Second Quarter Results on July 24

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (NASDAQ GS: HBNC) – Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (“Horizon” or the “Company”) will host a conference call at 7:30 a.m. CT on Thursday, July 24, 2025 to review its second quarter 2025 financial results.

    The Company’s second quarter 2025 news release will be published after markets close on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. It will be available at investor.horizonbank.com.

    Participants may access the live conference call on July 24, 2025 at 7:30 a.m. CT (8:30 a.m. ET) by dialing 833-974-2379 from the United States, 866-450-4696 from Canada, or 412-317-5772 from international locations and requesting the “Horizon Bancorp Call.” Please dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to the call.

    A telephone replay of the call will be available approximately one hour after the end of the conference call through August 1, 2025. The telephone replay may be accessed by dialing 877-344-7529 from the United States, 855-669-9658 from Canada, or 412-317-0088 from other international locations and entering the access code 5878909.

    About Horizon Bancorp, Inc.

    Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: HBNC) is the $7.6 billion-asset commercial bank holding company for Horizon Bank, which serves customers across diverse and economically attractive Midwestern markets through convenient digital and virtual tools, as well as its Indiana and Michigan branches. Horizon’s retail offerings include prime residential and other secured consumer lending to in-market customers, as well as a range of personal banking and wealth management solutions. Horizon also provides a comprehensive array of in-market business banking and treasury management services, as well as equipment financing solutions for customers regionally and nationally, with commercial lending representing over half of total loans. More information on Horizon, headquartered in Northwest Indiana’s Michigan City, is available at horizonbank.com and investor.horizonbank.com.

       
    Contact: Mark E. Secor
      Chief Administration Officer
    Phone: 219-873-2611
    Date: July 1, 2025

    The MIL Network –