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Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: MPs to present Support Workers with giant bank cheques representing their lost $20,644.45 pay equity wages – PSA

    Source: PSA

    Opposition MPs will present giant bank ‘cheques’ representing $20,644.45 in stolen pay equity wages to care and support at Parliament on Tuesday 1 July.
    July 1 heralds pay increases for politicians while care and support workers mark three years to the day waiting for one. Their pay equity claim – now cancelled by the National-led Government – was initiated on 1 July 2022.
    “The cheque represents the amount owed to these women from the care and support pay equity claim the Government cancelled on May 6,” says PSA Assistant Secretary Melissa Woolley.
    “The figure reflects what should have been paid to workers under the claim, calculated using their pay equity rates.
    “It’s a life-changing amount of money the National-led Government have stolen from hardworking people – most of them women,” Woolley said.
    What: Labour MP Jan Tinetti and Green MP Teanau Tuiono to handover symbolic giant cheques to care and support workers.
    Where: Parliament – exact location TBC.
    When: 2pm – 2:20pm, Tuesday 1 July.
    Who: A care and support worker from each of the three unions – E tū, the Public Service Association, and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation.
    How: The cheques will be handed over after short speeches from support workers, MP Jan Tinetti, and Melissa Ansell-Bridges – National Secretary of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.
    PSA analysis shows support workers would be $20,644.45 better off if they’d been paid equity rates over the three years people in Government have failed to deliver their settlement.
    Notes:
    The analysis is based on the 21 per cent margin above the minimum wage that care and support workers received in the 2017 settlement. The settlement rates, or the minimum wage rate, whichever was higher has been compared with what the rate would have been if the 21 per cent margin had been maintained. The comparison is based on a 30-hour work week.
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Flooding demonstrates danger in Govt ‘growth at any cost’ ideological agenda – Tom Kay

    Source: Choose Clean Water – Tom Kay


    Flooding in the top of the South Island, and the threat of more to come later this week, demonstrates the dangers of the Government pushing ahead with policy changes based on narrow ideological grounds and a ‘growth at any cost’ agenda, say freshwater campaigners.


    Tom Kay, spokesperson for the campaign group Choose Clean Water, says the Coalition Government’s proposed resource management reforms, with an ideological focus on ‘the enjoyment of property rights’, will inevitably leave communities more vulnerable to the impacts of flooding. 


    “The Coalition Government has demonstrated across its resource management reform that they care more about the profits of commercial players than good governance for the health and stability of our communities. Their ‘growth at any cost’ agenda is not only thoughtless but downright dangerous.”


    Kay, a strong advocate for the idea of Making Room for Rivers as a strategy to keep communities and infrastructure safe from flooding while restoring the health of our rivers, says while many communities, councils, and insurance companies are ready for action to avoid hazards and widen allowed floodplains, the Government must not put growth and development on par with community safety and environmental health if they want to meaningfully reduce the risk to communities.


    “We’ve just seen yet another example of devastating flooding following back-to-back experiences in Otago in October, the West Coast in November, and Canterbury in May. The costs are incredibly serious, including people losing their lives.


    “We know our rivers need more space to carry floodwater safely, especially with the more extreme weather we’re getting as the climate continues to warm. But the Government’s narrow focus on growth and private property rights through their resource management reform risks undermining progress towards this.”


    Kay says international evidence and case studies show the best option for keeping communities and infrastructure safe from flooding is to avoid development in high-risk locations, and to incentivise and fund planned relocation from places already at high risk. This approach also provides the best opportunity for restoration of rivers and their floodplains, whilst increasing community wellbeing, amenity values, and resilience.


    However, he says the Government’s focus on growth and property rights is inconsistent with this.


    “Documents continue to highlight the Coalition Government’s obsession with growth, and the misplaced idea that somehow we can continue to grow anywhere, with few restrictions, and still somehow mitigate the consequences. We can’t.


    “While we support the introduction of a National Policy Statement for Natural Hazards, for some reason it is less-developed now than it was last year, and drafted provisions that would have prioritised using nature-based solutions to reduce flood risk—such as making room for rivers, and to direct councils to avoid development in high risk locations, are gone.”


    “The proposed provisions direct councils to “consider” risk and act “proportionately”, leaving plenty of room for vested commercial interests to push councils into continuing to allow development, including homes, in high-risk locations.


    “Not to mention that the proposal doesn’t apply to the development of infrastructure, which is one of the main and most expensive assets hit during flooding; or to aquaculture, agricultural, pastoral, horticultural, mining, quarrying, or forestry activities and the land and buildings they use.”


    Kay says proposed changes to weaken the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management will also undermine the need to keep people out of harm’s way, and to maintain sufficient river health and width to safely carry floodwaters.


    “We have a requirement to prioritise the health of water bodies and communities in the management of our freshwater under the idea of Te Mana o te Wai. Flood managers have supported this idea as a way to help communities reconsider how they live with rivers, including their associated risks and hazards, and to make changes that increase flood resilience and river health together. 


    “But the Coalition Government wants to get rid of this prioritisation.”


    “We also have no idea what the Government wants to do with an existing provision in the policy that prevents the ‘loss of river extent’, and thereby maintains wider flood corridors, for example; or whether they want to remove a provision that requires water to be managed as part of an ‘integrated response to climate change’.”


    “Our rivers and wider catchments need to be healthy and resilient if our communities are going to be safe from the worst harms of flooding. This Government needs to understand that private property rights and growth-at-all-costs won’t enable that. It will cost us all in the long-run.”


    The Government’s consultation on freshwater and natural hazard policies, as well as related policies, is open for submissions until 27 July. 


    Note: 


    • Following Cyclone Gabrielle, Tom Kay toured the country promoting the idea of Making Room for Rivers in his previous role as Freshwater Advocate for Forest & Bird. He has spoken to over 60 groups and was met with understanding and support from communities, councils, and insurance companies across New Zealand. Tom presented to Tasman District Councillors in May 2023.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Appointments – Young leaders step up to Federated Farmers board

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Karl Dean (36) and Richard Dawkins (35) have been elected to the Federated Farmers board at the organisation’s AGM in Christchurch, replacing Richard McIntyre and Toby Williams.
    “It’s really exciting to have two capable young leaders like Karl and Richard stepping up into these significant national leadership roles,” Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says.
    “While they may be new to our national team, they’re by no means new to Federated Farmers. They’ve held senior leadership roles within our organisation for some time now.
    “Karl and Richard are both highly respected and experienced farmers within their regions, and have worked their way up from the grassroots.
    “I have no doubt they’ll both make a huge contribution.”
    Karl Dean, who sharemilks with his wife Amie near Leeston in Canterbury, has been elected as the organisation’s new national dairy chair.
    He has previously held roles as Federated Farmers North Canterbury provincial president and vice-chair of the national dairy council.
    “It’s a real privilege to be elected to the board, and I’m genuinely excited about the opportunity to help lead a constructive and future-focused dairy council,” Dean says.
    “It’s also been a huge honour to work with Richard McIntyre over the past seven years on the dairy council, and his 12 years of service hasn’t gone unnoticed.
    “His leadership has helped shape a strong, positive culture, and I’m committed to carrying that legacy forward.”
    Richard Dawkins, who farms with his wife Jess in the Waihopai Valley near Blenheim, has been elected as the organisation’s new national meat & wool chair.
    He has previously spent five years on Federated Farmers’ national meat & wool council and two years as Marlborough province’s vice-president.
    “It’s a huge honour to be elected to this role and I’m really looking forward to leading a young and dynamic team of meat and wool farmers who are passionate about the future,” Dawkins says.
    “The face fronting the ‘Save our Sheep’ campaign may have changed, but the team standing behind it remains the same. We’re ready to tackle the challenges sheep farmers face head on.”
    Langford also acknowledges the role outgoing board members Richard McIntyre and Toby Williams have played in a significant revival at Federated Farmers over the last few years.
    “Both Richard and Toby have been real heavyweights who were absolutely relentless in their advocacy for farmers and rural communities,” Langford says.
    “Richard is probably best known for his work calling for an independent inquiry into rural banking, but his legacy within Federated Farmers is so much bigger than that.
    “He also put in a huge amount of effort pushing for better immigration settings for farmers, and changes to KiwiSaver rules that will really help our next generation of young farmers.
    “Toby’s impact has been enormous too. He’s the man who stepped up to put the final nails into the coffin of He Waka Eke Noa.
    “He’s also led the charge in the fight against blanket carbon forestry on productive farmland, launching the iconic ‘Save Our Sheep’ campaign earlier this year.”
    Langford says while goodbyes are always difficult, they also create an exciting opportunity for new leaders to step up, bring fresh thinking, and stamp their own mark on the future of farming.
    “Nobody has a job for life at Federated Farmers. Our roles are up for re-election every year and there’s always somebody waiting in the wings ready to step up.
    “That’s what keeps us on our toes and accountable to our members at the grassroots – but it’s also what keeps the fire burning in our bellies to keep delivering tangible results for farmers.
    “As an organisation, we’re lucky to have passionate young guys like Karl and Richard putting their hands up for some pretty big leadership roles within the sector.
    “I know they’re going to make a real impact for farmers, and will pick up the fight exactly where Richard and Toby left off. I’m looking forward to working with them.”  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace activists confront second “ocean killer” at sea, as vessels turn off AIS

    Source: Greenpeace

    For a second time, Greenpeace Aotearoa activists have confronted a bottom trawler off the East Coast, rebranding it an “ocean killer” in protest at its destructive fishing activities.
    Launching from the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior, activists came alongside Sealord’s Ocean Dawn while it was bottom trawling in the Chatham Rise area on Monday morning, and painted the message on its hull.
    This comes three days after activists confronted Talley’s bottom trawler, the Amaltal Atlantis, in the same area and painted “Ocean Killer” on its hull.
    Ocean Dawn, owned by Sealord, trawls heavily on the Chatham Rise, an area known as a hotspot for coral life. In 2018, Ocean Dawn illegally trawled in a Benthic Protected Area on the Chatham Rise, bringing up 1.3 tonnes of sponges and bycatch. The vessel has also previously received permits to fish in the High Seas of the Tasman. 
    Speaking from onboard the Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Juan Parada says, “Greenpeace Aotearoa activists have again taken action to stand up for ocean life that we all want to see thrive. Today they have rebranded another bottom trawler at sea, once more calling out bottom trawlers for what they are – “ocean killers”.
    “Bottom trawling is indiscriminate and destructive. When the heavy trawl nets are dragged across the seafloor and over seamounts, they turn coral into rubble, and kill fur seals, sharks and seabirds as ‘bycatch’.
    “Out here, we’ve observed these trawlers operating day and night, emptying the oceans on which we all rely.
    “If you were moved and horrified by the footage in David Attenborough’s Ocean, you should know it’s happening right here, right now, by multiple companies including Sealord and Talley’s.
    “If we want a healthy ocean for the future, bottom trawling must stop on the places it does the most harm.” 
    Greenpeace has been documenting trawling off the east coast of the South Island from the Rainbow Warrior. Overnight, after multiple bottom trawling vessels stopped submitting their location information, Greenpeace tracked a mystery trawler, which turned out to be Ocean Dawn. The captain of one trawl vessel Greenpeace spoke to via radio, reported they had been given a company directive to turn the Automatic Identification System (AIS) off.
    The New Zealand bottom trawling industry operates in the waters of Aotearoa, and in the High Seas of the Tasman where New Zealand is the only country still operating a fleet.
    Parada says, “The rest of the world is taking steps to protect international waters, places like the Tasman Sea where marine life is varied and abundant, from deep sea corals to migrating whales and seabirds. Shockingly, New Zealand is actively standing in the way of progress by continuing to advocate for the bottom trawling industry.
    “It’s time Sealord, the trawling industry, and the government listened to the tens of thousands of New Zealanders who want ocean health valued over industry interests.
    “From depleted fish numbers to smashed coral, dead sharks and seabirds, the cost of bottom trawling is too high. To protect the ocean for the future and safeguard the ocean we all love, bottom trawling must stop.”
    Last week Greenpeace documented another trawler, Thomas Harrison, also owned by Sealord, in the Cook Strait, photographing the net surrounded by seabirds and seals – which often end up as bycatch.
    Notes:
    • The paint used to paint the hull is water based and non-toxic
    • In the period 1990 to 2004 the total area trawled in NZ waters was 465,100 square kilometres – almost double NZ’s land mass.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – Lower Hutt Mayor welcomes new water entity reset for the region

    Source: Hutt City Council

    Wellington’s metropolitan councils have agreed to form a new jointly owned water services entity that will be more efficient, reliable, and deliver greater value for money.
    Upper Hutt City Council was the final partner to vote in favour of the new entity today, following earlier support from Porirua, Lower Hutt and Wellington City Councils and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
    The new entity will take over the ownership and management of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure by 1 July 2026.
    Unlike Wellington Water, the new entity will own the water infrastructure that is currently owned by councils. The entity will be able to generate its own income, manage its own debt, and will not be constrained by council funding.
    Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry welcomed today’s milestone saying the decision marks a reset for water services in the region.
    “The new entity unlocks the financial tools needed to make smart investments in water infrastructure, without placing an unsustainable burden on ratepayers. “It will enable better decision-making across the entire network and ensure more consistent service delivery.”
    Barry said it was significant that all five councils have come to the table with a shared vision.
    “It shows we’re putting what’s best for our ratepayers and residents ahead of parochial politics.”
    Barry said turning around historical underinvestment in water infrastructure will take time and water bills will still increase under the new entity to meet the needs of the region’s ageing network.
    However, high-level modelling shows that any rise in water charges will be about 30% less than what households would face under the current model.
    “Our main goal is to introduce a new way of delivering water services that allows for more investment in the network with an entity that is more efficient; while keeping costs more affordable and sustainable over the long-term,” Barry said.
    The entity will be governed by a board of independent professional directors who will be appointed by a steering committee of council and iwi representatives.
    The primary relationship of the entity will be with its customers (residents) not its shareholders (councils), giving the organisation the independence and accountability to deliver.
    The decision comes as part of the Government’s ‘Local Water Done Well’ reform, which requires councils to decide on a long term water services model and submit delivery plans by September 2025.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Transport – Honouring the driving forces of the transport sector

    Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

    New drivers, old hands, smart brains and clever operators were honoured on Saturday at the 2025 South Island Seminar Industry Awards in Christchurch.
    The awards, hosted by Transporting New Zealand, celebrate individuals and organisations that have made exceptional contributions to the road transport sector through innovation, safety, industry awareness, and training.
    The Supreme Contribution to NZ Road Transport Award was a posthumous award to Alex McLellan who tragically died in a workplace accident last year.
    Alex was the founder of Balclutha’s McLellan’s Freight and was a huge presence in the freight sector. He was well known for his big hearted and generous nature, his sense of fun, and a commitment to making the industry better.
    The award was accepted on his behalf by widow Kim Unahi-McLellan, herself a key player in the sector.
    The other award winners were:
    Jax Smith and Jen Hall, the co-owners of Marlborough’s Renwick Transport, won the TrackIT Logistics Women in Road Freight Transport Award.
    From advocating for diversity to lifting grape harvest logistics standards in Marlborough , they are a driving force for change, community and inclusion in the industry.
    The EROAD Young Driver Award went to Sydney Sangster of Conroy Removals.
    Aged 22, Sydney is a top-tier operator, navigating the South Island in B-Trains with confidence and skill. From tail-lift trucks to career day presentations, she’s delivering excellence and promoting the industry to the next generation of drivers.
    The EROAD Outstanding Contribution to Health and Safety Award went to Hammar New Zealand Limited for their AI-powered pedestrian detection system.
    Installed on side-loaders, the system identifies when people are too close to a trailer or vehicle, triggering real-time visual and audio alerts for operators.
    The Fruehauf Outstanding Contribution to Innovation Award went to TrackIT Logistics for its end-to-end business platform. It integrates dispatch, compliance, safety, stock management and live data, and is the trusted tool for many businesses nationwide.
    The Outstanding Contribution to Training Award went to MOVe Logistics, which has embedded training into the fabric of its operations.
    The company has delivered a range of development opportunities for its people, supporting qualifications across the Level 3 Heavy Vehicle Operator programme, micro-credentials and business training.
    Dom Kalasih, the chief executive for Transporting New Zealand, said it was fantastic to see the calibre and the numbers of people nominated for the awards.
    “Times are tough at the moment, but these are the people and the companies that don’t shy away from investing in their products, and their people.”
    “I applaud all the nominees and the winners for making our industry better in all sorts of ways.” 
    About Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand
    Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand is the peak national membership association representing the road freight transport industry. Our members operate urban, rural and inter- regional commercial freight transport services throughout the country.
    Road is the dominant freight mode in New Zealand, transporting 92.8% of the freight task on a tonnage basis, and 75.1% on a tonne-km basis. The road freight transport industry employs over 34,000 people across more than 4700 businesses, with an annual turnover of $6 billion.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Banking – ASB offers relief to upper South Island customers affected by severe weather

    Source: ASB

    ASB will support customers affected by severe weather across Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough with tailored packages, including suspension of home loan repayments and emergency overdraft facilities for personal, business and rural customers.

    ASB Executive General Manager for Personal Banking Adam Boyd says ASB’s team is here to help any customers who require financial assistance or support.

    “We understand this is a really hard time for the region, as communities focus on the huge clean-up effort, while preparing for the potential of further heavy rain later this week. To take some pressure off, we’re activating our relief packages and our teams are ready to talk through practical ways we can help customers facing weather damage to their homes, businesses or farms.”

    ASB’s emergency assistance can be offered to personal, farming and business customers on a case-by-case basis, including:

     

    • Option to suspend home loan principal repayments for up to three months.
    • Immediate consideration of requests for emergency credit card limit increases and overdraft facilities.
    • Tailored solutions for eligible ASB business and rural customers including access to working capital of up to $100,000.

     

    Mr Boyd says weather events such as these are a good reminder for customers to check they have the right insurance cover in place. “We encourage property owners to check their polices are up to date and their coverage is sufficient, particularly if there have been renovations to the property.”

    Personal customers needing support should call ASB’s contact centre on 0800 803 804. Alternatively, customers can email hardship@asb.co.nz.  Affected ASB business and rural customers should speak to their relationship manager or call 0800 272 287. 

     

    Further detail on available support is available at Extreme weather support l ASB: https://www.asb.co.nz/page/extreme-weather-support.html

     

    More information and full terms, fees and charges can be found on ASB’s website.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    June 30, 2025

  • Indian stock market opens flat; Sensex holds above 84,000 mark

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian stock market opened on a steady note on Monday, with benchmark indices trading flat amid positive global cues and selective buying in PSU bank and IT stocks.

    At around 9:27 am, the BSE Sensex was marginally higher by 1.35 points at 84,057.55, while the NSE Nifty gained 6.50 points, or 0.03 per cent, to trade at 25,644.30.

    Analysts attributed the steady start to easing geopolitical tensions in West Asia, a sharp correction in Brent crude prices to 67 dollars per barrel, and encouraging signals on the trade front, including possible deals between the US, China and India.

    Dr VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, said that large-cap counters like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Reliance Industries and L&T have been key drivers of the recent rally due to institutional accumulation.

    The Nifty Bank index in early trade was up by 15.15 points at 57,459.05. Meanwhile, the Nifty Midcap 100 advanced by 220.90 points to 59,606.05, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 rose 153.35 points to trade at 19,130.15.

    Within the Sensex pack, M&M, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bharti Airtel, HDFC Bank, NTPC and UltraTech Cement were among the laggards in the opening session. On the other hand, Trent, SBI, L&T, Eternal, Axis Bank and Hindustan Unilever were trading in positive territory.

    Continued weakness in the dollar index is supporting foreign fund inflows, while retail investor confidence remains strong. Market experts, however, advise caution when making fresh investments at elevated valuations despite the ongoing bull run.

    Foreign institutional investors were net buyers on June 27, picking up shares worth Rs 1,397.02 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors booked profits, selling equities worth Rs 588.93 crore.

    In Asia, key markets such as China, Bangkok, Japan, Seoul and Jakarta were trading higher, while Hong Kong was in negative territory.

    Overnight in the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed higher at 43,819.27, up 432.43 points or 1 per cent. The S&P 500 gained 32.05 points to end at 6,173.07, and the Nasdaq added 105.55 points to close at 20,273.46.

    -IANS

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Director Wu Cheng-wei Meets Outstanding Taiwanese Young Doctors Studying in Australia

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu and colleague were pleased to meet with Dr. Lin Yu-Ju from the Department of Family Medicine at Taichung Veterans General Hospital and Dr. Hsu Chia-Yun from the Department of Pediatrics at National Taiwan University Hospital, who are currently in Sydney for further training. They gained insights into the rigorous training process of Taiwan’s outstanding doctors and expressed deep admiration for the young physicians’ dedication to continuous learning and their pursuit of excellence in medical knowledge and skills.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Inspiring Aussies share their stories of doubt in new CommBank campaign – CBA

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

    Hear how Australians from sport, entertainment and social enterprise turned doubt into action – as part of CommBank’s refreshed brand platform championing everyone to fulfil their personal potential.

    Doubt is something we all face, but it’s how we respond that defines us.

    CommBank’s new campaign, Doubt Never Did, shares the real stories of Australians from all walks of life who have faced self-doubt, setbacks and uncertainty – and kept going. From personal reinvention to pushing through rejections, doubt is part of the turning point that helped them succeed.

    Jo Boundy, CommBank Chief Marketing Officer, said: “Doubt can hold us back – whether it’s taking the first steps to start a business or savings goal, or hitting a roadblock further along in your journey. This campaign shows Australians they’re not alone, and that doubt can be a powerful turning point. Back yourself and know that with CommBank in your corner, you can.”

    Meet the Australians who turned doubt into something more

    From elite sport to the stage and kitchen, the inspiring Australians who feature in the national campaign have each faced down their own moments of doubts. Hear conversations with:

    Mary Fowler, CommBank Matilda’s superstar – who rose from Cairns to the world stage, overcoming pressure and expectation to become one of the most exciting talents in global football;
    Zoe Karatzovalis, Yellow Wiggle, inclusivity champion and business owner of inclusive dance studio, Infinite Abilities Performance Arts; and
    Shaun Christie-David, social entrepreneur, Founder of Plate it Forward and Colombo Social;

    From today, see these stories on billboards across the country with QR codes to listen to the full audio interviews hosted by podcaster Matty J.

    https://youtu.be/81FiIPeJerk

    Mary Fowler, CommBank Matildas superstar, said: “Doubt has been a constant presence in my journey.”

    Mary grew up in Cairns and quickly made her mark on football, playing professional overseas while still a teenager. But even as her career accelerated, self-doubt followed – especially during setbacks and injury.

    “Sometimes the situations we’re in and the problems that we’re facing… they feel so big to overcome that it seems like there’s no way through them.”

    Now, Mary is focused on flipping the mindset. “I really hate the idea of being a victim… As much as I can, I just try to flip the perspective on a lot of these things. That actually helps me see a lot more positives in what I’m doing and makes it a bit easier to get through it without feeling sorry for myself.”

    Mary’s advice? “Everyone experiences doubt. I think it’s a normal part of our journey. The thing to try change is not doubt itself, but the way you react to it and how quickly you can counter it. Don’t let doubt hold you back and keep believing in yourself.”

    Zoe Karatzovalis, Yellow Wiggle and Founder of Infinite Abilities Performance Arts, said: “I doubted myself more than everyone did. I think everyone believed in me more than I did… I just didn’t really know what I was doing.”

    Zoe grew up in Port Lincoln, where her passion for dance started early. But it was her brother, Costa, who shaped her purpose. “My brother, Costa, he’s on the autism spectrum… we always connected through music and dance. He was a big inspiration in my life… I really wanted to be the change and to inspire others too.”

    After moving to Sydney to pursue a professional dance career, Zoe faced pressure and rejection. “I felt like I was this small fish in this huge pond… I struggled to make fri

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

    June 30, 2025

  • China’s weak factory activity maintains pressure for more stimulus as tariff risks weigh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    China’s manufacturing activity shrank for a third straight month in June, though at a slower pace, as increases in new orders, purchasing volumes and supplier delivery times signalled that policy support rolled out since late last year is taking effect.

    But business sentiment remains subdued, Monday’s survey showed, with employment, factory gate prices and new export orders still languishing, and keeping alive calls for even more stimulus as authorities deal with U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff onslaught and chronic weakness in the property sector.

    The National Bureau of Statistics purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 49.7 in June from 49.5 in May, matching the median forecast in a Reuters poll but remaining below the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction.

    “Two months of successive improvement, that’s a decent reading given June was the first full month without Trump’s prohibitive 100%-plus tariffs,” said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

    “There is still evidence of frontloading in trade, but the tariffs are lower now and manufacturers are preparing to ship holiday season goods,” he added.

    The new export orders sub-index remained in contraction for a 14th straight month in June, inching up to 47.7 from 47.5 in May, while employment diverged from other indicators by deteriorating further. However, new domestic orders rose to 50.2 from 49.8, and purchasing volumes jumped from 47.6 to 50.2 — offering policymakers some hope that domestic demand may be starting to recover.

    Zichun Huang, China economist at Capital Economics, said the PMIs suggested the world’s second-largest economy had regained some momentum over the past month, but warned tensions with the West would continue to squeeze its exports and there were still signs of deflationary pressures.

    The non-manufacturing PMI, which includes services and construction, grew to 50.5 from 50.3.

    Activity in the food and beverages, travel, hospitality and logistics sectors fell this month, NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe said in a statement. However, this drag was offset by a pickup in the construction PMI, which rose to a 3-month high of 52.8, Capital Economics’ Huang said.

    “Fiscal support looks to have continued to support infrastructure spending,” Huang added, but cautioned that “a fading fiscal tailwind is likely to slow activity in the second half of the year.”

    MORE STIMULUS

    Uncertainty also lingers among factory owners, as the business outlook index – which normally moves in line with the headline PMI – dropped in June and suggested producers were waiting on a more durable trade deal to a fragile framework agreed between Beijing and Washington earlier this month.

    That puts pressure on policymakers to roll out more support measures, as the government cannot afford for China’s vast manufacturing sector to stagnate or shrink, if its ambitious 2025 growth target of “around 5%” is to be met.

    Profits at China’s industrial firms swung sharply back into decline in May, which officials attributed to weak demand and falling industrial product prices.

    Policymakers are confident they can push ahead with reforms launched late last year to transition China’s economy from a manufacturing-led model to a consumer-driven one, Premier Li Qiang told delegates at World Economic Forum and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank meetings last week.

    Such a shift in the engines of growth, which economists say is crucial to securing China’s future, could be progressed while maintaining strong growth, Li said.

    But economists say the transition could take years, and that reform typically comes at the cost of a more subdued economy in the short term.

    “Exports are expected to decelerate in the second half of the year, and domestic deflationary pressures will intensify,” said Dan Wang, China director at Eurasia Group, who expects more stimulus in coming months.

    “Household consumption cannot be a real short-term driver, but fiscal spending in things like infrastructure can deliver the kind of growth required to hit this year’s target.”

    (Reuters)

    June 30, 2025

  • Former supremo Ecclestone makes F1 podium debut at 94

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Bernie Ecclestone, the former Formula One supremo who rarely stayed to watch races beyond halfway when he was in charge, made his first grand prix podium appearance at the age of 94 in Austria on Sunday.

    The Briton was present at the Red Bull Ring to hand out a medal on behalf of the president of the governing FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, to McLaren’s race winner Lando Norris.

    Norris hopped off the top step of the podium so that he would be standing at the same level as his diminutive compatriot.

    “I think it’s really nice that the president gives a personal congratulations to the winning competitor,” said Ecclestone, who ran the commercial side of the sport for some 40 years until being ousted in 2017.

    “As he could not attend the race here in Austria, he asked me to present his medal for him which I am pleased and honoured to do.

    “It was also great to be there as, though it might seem strange, this was the first time in almost 70 years in this sport that I’ve actually been on the podium.”

    Norris won Formula One’s 1,136th championship grand prix and Ecclestone attended the first at Silverstone in 1950.

    He once said he left races soon after the start because by then his business was done.

    The President’s Medal was first presented to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the season-ending 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and each one carries the race number and highlights the event’s history.

    -Reuters

    June 30, 2025

  • Amit Shah inaugurates National Turmeric Board headquarters in Telangana, promises major boost to farmers and exports

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a major boost to India’s turmeric farming sector, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday inaugurated the headquarters of the National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad, Telangana.

    The inauguration ceremony was attended by Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and other senior dignitaries.

    Addressing the gathering, Shah highlighted that the creation of the Board fulfills a 40-year-old demand of turmeric farmers, particularly in Telangana. The initiative, he said, was a promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023 and now stands fulfilled. Nizamabad, widely recognized as the “turmeric capital” of India, will now have the infrastructure to take its produce to global markets within the next few years.

    “The Board will eliminate the role of middlemen and put in place an integrated framework for turmeric packaging, branding, marketing, and export,” Shah said. He also underscored the medicinal value of turmeric, referring to it as a “wonder drug” with anti-viral, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties that are gaining international recognition.

    The Centre has set a target to scale turmeric exports to $1 billion by 2030, with all required preparations already underway. The National Turmeric Board will spearhead efforts to ensure maximum value returns to farmers, promote GI-tagged organic turmeric, and facilitate training and capacity-building programs. The Board will also guide compliance with global standards for quality and safety and support research and development to further explore turmeric’s therapeutic benefits.

    Shah revealed that turmeric prices in 2025 reached ₹18,000–₹19,000 per quintal, and the government is working to push that figure up by ₹6,000–₹7,000 over the next three years. He noted that turmeric was cultivated on over 3 lakh hectares across the country in 2023–24, yielding 10.74 lakh tonnes.

    Key turmeric-growing districts in Telangana—Nizamabad, Jagtial, Nirmal, and Kamareddy—are expected to gain significantly from this institutional support. Shah also pointed to the establishment of the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) and the National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) by the Modi government to promote farmers engaged in both exports and organic farming.

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Rotary Park upgrades to begin soon

    Source: South Australia Police

    Work will soon begin on the final stage of upgrades to Rotary Park Play Space, making the much-loved local park even more accessible, fun and family-friendly.

    Last year, the City revitalised the park’s iconic fort play area and added wheelchair access to support inclusive, imaginative play for children of all ages and abilities.

    The upcoming works will replace ageing play equipment, park furniture and lighting, while also improving safety with new drainage and flood control measures.

    Visitors can look forward to new play zones with rubber soft-fall surfacing, inclusive features like mini-towns, climbing nets, swings, a toddler area and nature play elements.

    New footpaths will connect key areas of the park, making it easier for families with prams and people using mobility aids to get around. All play areas will be covered by shade sails, and more trees will be planted to create a cooler, greener environment.

    Mayor Linda Aitken said the upgrades would help Rotary Park remain a favourite local destination.

    “Rotary Park has always been a well-loved place where families come together,” she said.

    “These improvements will make it even easier for our community to meet, play and enjoy the outdoors.”

    The concept design was guided by community feedback. 

    Construction is expected to start early next year.

    MIL OSI News –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Senior-friendly toys fuel growth of China’s silver economy

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

    Inside a senior care home, lively elders gathered around a tabletop hockey game, sharpening their minds and savoring the moment.

    These brain-teasing games, once seen as children’s play, are quickly becoming the latest craze among older adults.

    As China’s population ages rapidly, the once-overlooked market for senior-friendly toys is emerging as a new pillar of the booming silver economy.

    For Guan Weijiang, a toy merchant in Yiwu, a bustling trade hub in east China, the shift is quite evident.

    Over the past year, his online store has experienced a surge in demand for fitness and brain-training toys among older customers. Consumers aged 50 and above now make up 30 percent of his user base.

    “Our two best-selling toys fall into the fitness and puzzle categories. They’re not physically demanding, but they’re fun and perfect for elderly users to exercise or pass the time,” Guan said.

    “There’s actually quite a bit of overlap between toys for children and those for the elderly, as both help improve reflexes, grip strength and coordination. In fact, some children’s toys can be easily adapted for seniors with just a few simple tweaks,” Guan explained.

    Recognizing the potential of senior-friendly toys as a promising niche, he decided to seize the opportunity. Within just three months of launching over 10 products designed specifically for elderly users, his shop’s sales far exceeded expectations.

    On one of China’s leading e-commerce platforms, Taobao, searches for “senior-friendly toys” jumped 124 percent year on year, with transaction volumes increasing by over 70 percent. Consumers aged 55 and above now make up a growing proportion of buyers, and their purchasing frequency is accelerating.

    Seeing the expanding market, an increasing number of toy manufacturers across China are shifting their focus to meet the demands of older consumers.

    According to Cheng Xin from Taobao’s toys and collectibles team, the platform is seeing a wave of new shops selling toys for the elderly, with some newly established and many others converted from former children’s toy stores.

    “Toys are no longer just for children or symbols of pop culture. They are lifelong hobbies that can bring joy and mental enrichment to consumers of all ages,” Cheng said, adding that Taobao plans to launch a dedicated category for senior-friendly toys, along with tailored operational support for the segment.

    The rise of senior-friendly toys is not only creating new consumer demand but also catalyzing transformations across traditional industries.

    Yunhe County in Zhejiang Province, widely known as China’s “Wooden Toy Capital,” stands out as a particularly striking example.

    Building on decades of industrial experience, Yunhe is now integrating wooden toys with elderly care to develop an innovation-driven industry chain focused on cognitive wellness and entertainment.

    The key to this transformation lies in shifting from “fun” to “function.” So far, local manufacturers have developed over 200 wooden toys designed to improve hand-foot coordination and help slow memory loss among older adults.

    According to Yin Qian, president of Zhejiang Mimi Zhikang Technology Co., the company has developed over 100 wooden puzzle toys that are both entertaining and mentally stimulating.

    To enhance the cognitive and rehabilitative benefits of its products, the company collaborated with the Health Science Center (HSC) of Xi’an Jiaotong University and an Alzheimer’s prevention group based in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province.

    So far, the company has secured more than 30 patents and supplies products to over 500 elderly care institutions across the country.

    Meanwhile, Yunhe is also eyeing international markets. In recent years, the county has expanded exports of its wooden toys to senior schools, nursing homes and community centers overseas.

    “In 2024, our products were successfully exported to Germany, Japan, and other markets, where they’ve been warmly received by elderly users,” Yin said.

    In the first quarter of this year, the company’s sales of elderly-oriented wooden toys rose 50 percent year on year.

    According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China’s elderly population is projected to grow by more than 10 million annually over the next decade. By 2035, the silver economy is expected to account for 9 percent of China’s GDP, up from 6 percent today.

    Data from market research firm iiMedia Research shows that China’s elderly care industry reached 12 trillion yuan (about 1.68 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 16.5 percent year on year. The silver economy is projected to hit around 30 trillion yuan by 2035, accounting for about 10 percent of GDP.

    The innovation in niche segments is opening up new avenues in the silver economy, according to Zhang Jinsong, secretary general of the Elder Education on Aging Committee of China Gerontological Society.

    “The silver economy is poised to evolve from meeting basic needs to fulfilling aspirations for quality and enjoyment,” he said. “That shift will unleash enormous potential.”

    MIL OSI China News –

    June 30, 2025

  • IRCTC’s upgraded system to handle over 1.5 lakh bookings and 40 lakh enquiries per minute

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian Railways is set to introduce a new Passenger Reservation System (PRS) by the end of this year, aiming to make the ticket booking process faster, smarter and more passenger-friendly. The upgraded system will be capable of generating over 1.5 lakh tickets per minute, nearly five times higher than the current capacity of 32,000 tickets per minute, according to the Ministry of Railways.

    Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently reviewed the progress of these reforms and highlighted the need for a ticketing system that is smart, transparent, accessible and efficient. Emphasising passenger convenience, the Minister said that the entire journey should be smooth and comfortable right from the stage of ticket reservation.

    Indian Railways will advance the reservation chart preparation from the current four hours before departure to eight hours prior. For trains scheduled to depart before 2 pm, the reservation chart will now be prepared the previous evening by 9 pm. This change is expected to help passengers travelling from remote locations or nearby areas, giving them more time to plan or make alternative arrangements if their tickets remain unconfirmed.

    The upgraded PRS, which is being developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), is designed to be agile, flexible and scalable, capable of handling ten times the current load. Apart from boosting ticket booking capacity, the system will also increase ticket enquiry capacity from the present four lakh to over forty lakh enquiries per minute. The new interface will be multilingual and user-friendly, allowing passengers to choose seats, view fare calendars and access integrated facilities for Divyangjan, students and patients.

    In addition, Indian Railways is strengthening the authentication process for Tatkal bookings. From July 1, only authenticated users will be able to book Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC website and mobile app. By the end of July 2025, OTP-based authentication will also be introduced. The Railway Minister has directed that authentication should use Aadhaar or any other verifiable Government ID available in the user’s DigiLocker account.

     

    June 30, 2025

  • Wimbledon 2025: Dates, top seeds and match schedule

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Wimbledon is a grasscourt Grand Slam organised by the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The tournament was first held in 1877. Here is what you need to know about the year’s third major after the Australian Open and French Open:

    WHEN IS WIMBLEDON 2025 HAPPENING?

    * The Championships will run from June 30 to July 13.

    WHERE IS WIMBLEDON TAKING PLACE?

    * Wimbledon is held in London every year.

    * The three main showcourts at the All England Club are Centre Court, Court One and Court Two. Unlike other Grand Slam venues, the All England Club does not name its courts after former players.

    * Centre Court is the largest with a capacity of nearly 15,000 spectators. Court One has a capacity of 12,345 while Court Two, nicknamed the ‘Graveyard of Champions’ due to the many early upsets there over the years, seats 4,000.

    WHO IS INVOLVED IN WIMBLEDON?

    * The top-ranked players automatically enter the main draw with 32 seeds announced prior to the draw to ensure they do not meet in the early rounds. From the 2021 Championships, seedings for the men’s and women’s singles are based on world rankings.

    * Italian Jannik Sinner, who won his third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, is the current men’s world number one. Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, also a three-times major winner, is the women’s top-ranked player.

    * Spanish world number two Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his second French Open title, is looking to complete a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles.

    * American world number two Coco Gauff, the women’s champion at Roland Garros, is eyeing a first Wimbledon crown.

    * World number five Novak Djokovic will resume his quest for a record-extending 25th men’s Grand Slam singles title, while five-times major winner Iga Swiatek chases a first Wimbledon crown. Czech Barbora Krejcikova is the defending Wimbledon women’s champion.

    * Organisers also hand out wild cards for local hopes and notable players who have dropped down the rankings.

    TOP SEEDS

    Men:

    1 Jannik Sinner

    2 Carlos Alcaraz

    3 Alexander Zverev

    4 Jack Draper

    5 Taylor Fritz

    6 Novak Djokovic

    7 Lorenzo Musetti

    8 Holger Rune

    9 Daniil Medvedev

    10 Ben Shelton

    Women:

    1 Aryna Sabalenka

    2 Coco Gauff

    3 Jessica Pegula

    4 Jasmine Paolini

    5 Zheng Qinwen

    6 Madison Keys

    7 Mirra Andreeva

    8 Iga Swiatek

    9 Paula Badosa

    10 Emma Navarro

    June 30, 2025

  • Dalai Lama set to reveal succession plan as China watches

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Dalai Lama will address a major three-day gathering of Buddhist religious figures this week ahead of his 90th birthday, as his followers wait for the Tibetan spiritual leader to share details about his succession in a move that could irk China.

    Beijing views the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, as a separatist and says it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama has said his successor will be born outside China and urged his followers to reject anyone chosen by Beijing.

    Tibetan Buddhists hold that enlightened monks are reborn to carry forward their spiritual legacy. The 14th Dalai Lama will turn 90 on Sunday and has said he would consult senior monks and others at this time to share possible clues on where his successor, a boy or a girl, could be found following his death.

    He has previously said he could possibly reincarnate in India, where he lives in exile near the northern Himalayan town of Dharamshala. He was identified as the reincarnation of his predecessor when he was two.

    Dolma Tsering Teykhang, the deputy speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile in Dharamshala, said it was important for the world to hear directly from the Dalai Lama on the issue because while China “tries to vilify him at every chance … it is trying to frame rules and regulations on how to have the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama in their hand”.

    “China is trying to grab this institution … for its political purpose,” she said.

    “We want the incarnation of the Dalai Lama to be born not only for the survival of Tibet as a distinct culture, religion and nation, but also for the well-being of the whole humanity.”

    Thupten Ngodup, Tibet’s chief state oracle, said typically such discussions on the reincarnation do not take place when a monk is still alive but things are different now mainly because the “Chinese government is interfering”.

    Beijing said in March that the Dalai Lama was a political exile who had “no right to represent the Tibetan people at all”. China has said it is open to discussing his future if he recognises that Tibet and Taiwan are inalienable parts of China, a proposal the Tibetan government in exile has rejected.

    ‘AS IF HE’S NOT THERE’

    The religious conference this week, being held for the first time since 2019, will be attended by more than 100 Tibetan Buddhist leaders and will feature a video statement from the Dalai Lama.

    Hollywood star Richard Gere, a long-time follower of Tibetan Buddhism, will be among those attending, organisers have said.

    The Dalai Lama will attend prayers called by the Tibetan government in exile on July 5 and participate in his birthday celebrations a day later, according to a schedule shared by the organisers.

    He will speak at the celebrations for about half an hour. India’s parliamentary affairs minister, Kiren Rijiju, and some other Indian officials are expected to attend.

    Tibetans have been praying for his long health, especially since knee surgery in the U.S. last year, although the Dalai Lama told Reuters in December that he could live until he was 110. The previous Dalai Lama died earlier than expected at 58.

    The Dalai Lama and Tibetan officials say there is a system in place for the government-in-exile to continue its political work while officers of the Dalai Lama’s Gaden Phodrang Foundation search and recognise the next Dalai Lama.

    The current Dalai Lama set up the foundation in 2015 and its senior officers include several of his aides.

    Teykhang and other Tibetan officials said the Dalai Lama has been preparing his people for the day when he is gone, especially through his 2011 decision to hand his political role to a democratically elected government, ending a 368-year-old tradition of being both spiritual and temporal head of Tibetans.

    “Since he has come in the form of a human, we have to agree that there will be a moment when he is not with us,” said Teykhang. “His Holiness has really prepared us for that day, he made us act as if he’s not there.”

    (Reuters)

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Aquatic products controls maintained

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today reiterated that the import of aquatic products from 10 higher-risk Japanese prefectures has been banned since August 24, 2023, adding that a public announcement will be made if there is any adjustment to the policy.

     

    The statement came in response to media enquiries on the relaxation of import control measures on Japanese food products by the Mainland.

     

    The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China yesterday issued a “Notice on Conditional Resumption of the Import of Aquatic Products from Certain Regions in Japan”, announcing that imports of some aquatic products of Japanese origin – except for those from 10 specified prefectures – will resume with immediate effect.

     

    According to the notice, imports must comply with relevant national laws, regulations and food safety standards, and the Japanese authorities must effectively discharge their official regulatory responsibilities.

     

    In its statement, the HKSAR Government said imports of aquatic products from Tokyo, Fukushima, Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano and Saitama have been banned since August 24, 2023, to safeguard food safety and protect public health in Hong Kong.

     

    The measure was taken in response to the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station into the sea by the Japanese government.

     

    The HKSAR Government said it must act in a prudent manner, given that the duration and scale of the discharge are unprecedented.

     

    It also outlined that it has maintained communication with the Japanese authorities on relevant issues. This has included requesting that Japan provide information on the latest situation, as well as scientific evidence concerning the discharge, to assess whether there may be conditions for relaxing the current precautionary measures.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: City to hold flag raising ceremony to mark start of 2025 NAIDOC Week celebrations

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    The City of Greater Bendigo is inviting the community to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2025 at a special Flag Raising featuring a Dja Dja Wurrung Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony at 10am, Monday July 7 in the Bendigo Library Gardens.

    This year’s National NAIDOC Week will take place from July 6 to 13.  2025 marks 50 years of the week-long celebrations and the theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, celebrates achievements of the past and the bright future ahead.

    In Greater Bendigo a range of local activities will take including the Knuldoorong Art Exhibition 2025 which will launch at 5pm on Thursday July 3 at Dudley House in View Street.  The exhibition will continue on Friday July 4 to Sunday July 13 from 11am to 4pm.

    The Knuldoorong Art Exhibition showcases a range of artworks and pieces from First Nations artists and creatives.  It includes paintings, weaving and jewellery with all artwork available for purchase.

    City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the City will also light up the Rosalind Park Conservatory in Pall Mall to acknowledge and celebrate NAIDOC Week.

    “NAIDOC Week is a celebration of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Cr Metcalf said.

    “It is also a great opportunity for all Australians to come together to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the oldest continuing cultures on the planet,

    “I encourage residents to come along to the annual flag raising in the Library Garden  and help celebrate this important annual event.”

    MIL OSI News –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Do you have Bitcoin? Be aware of the tax consequences of selling your investment

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christina Allen, Senior lecturer, Curtin University

    Bitcoin is ubiquitous. It is impossible to open a social media stream or news source without encountering yet another mention of the topic. Many Australians have invested, hoping for a good return.

    But they may not have considered the tax consequences of their investments. So some might be in for an unexpected surprise.

    The tax implications of Bitcoin ownership and other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum largely turns on how seriously an investor pursues and manages their purchase.

    Given the enormous computing power and electric power needed to create Bitcoin from scratch, few Australians are actively mining Bitcoins.

    Mining involves creating digital information that yields the unique data “tokens” known as Bitcoins. It involves using specialised software to add new groups of transactions (known as blocks) to the shared transaction record (known as the blockchain.

    Trading in Bitcoins

    People who create Bitcoins are considered to be running a business and face the same tax consequences as any other active business, paying ordinary income tax on their profits.

    However, most Australian Bitcoin investors are using online exchanges to buy and sell already created Bitcoins.

    For them, the tax consequences will depend in the first instance on the frequency with which they buy or sell their Bitcoins and the level of study and ongoing monitoring and management they assign to the investment.

    A passive Bitcoin investor who simply buys some coins and largely ignores it until an opportune time to sell comes up will be treated purely as an investor by the Australian Taxation Office.

    For these people, the coins are characterised as passive investment assets similar to ownership of shares, gold or land. These Bitcoin investors will be subject to the capital gains rules in the income tax law.

    If they realise a gain on the sale of Bitcoin and the sale takes place within a year of the purchase, the gain will be fully included in the investor’s taxable income for the year the sale took place.

    If the sale takes place more than a year after purchase, the investor will qualify for a capital gains tax discount that makes half the gain exempt from tax, with only half included in their assessable income subject to taxation.

    But if the investor has a loss on the sale of Bitcoin, it can be recognised for tax purposes. But it will be quarantined against capital gains realised by the investor.

    In other words, it can only be used to reduce the amount of capital gains realised by the investor on the sale of other assets.

    Assumptions challenged

    While it is generally thought the capital gains treatment of Bitcoin sales has been settled for some time, a recent criminal case challenges some commonly accepted assumptions.

    The case was brought against a police officer charged with stealing Bitcoin recorded on a hardware wallet seized in a drug raid.

    The magistrate suggested Bitcoin was an asset (a view consistent with that of the tax office) but went on to suggest it was property similar to money.

    This led at least one tax lawyer to suggest there would be no tax consequences from selling Bitcoin for cash, as this would be akin to exchanging money for other money.

    It is, however, very unlikely a tax court would use a comment from the criminal case to unwind what has been settled tax law.

    Active investors

    If investors plays a more active role by frequently buying and selling Bitcoin or by actively researching and monitoring factors affecting its price, the tax office may consider they have shifted from being a passive investor to an active trader.

    A number of tax consequences follow.

    At one time, designation as a Bitcoin trader might have triggered a GST liability. If an investment trader has sales exceeding A$75,000 per year, they are considered an enterprise that must register as a GST business and pay GST on sales of goods or services.

    This included sales of Bitcoins, which were regarded as intangible goods by the tax office similar to music, films or other types of personal consumption.

    The tax office’s view

    However, following a very intense and ultimately successful lobbying campaign by digital commerce groups, the tax office revised its view and now considers Bitcoin to be a form of money for GST purposes.

    That means a sale of Bitcoin is treated as an exchange of money similar to changing Australian dollars for UK pounds or a $10 bill for five $2 coins.

    The office now recognises no sale of goods or services when there is a transfer of Bitcoin, leaving the transaction outside the goods and services tax system.

    The tax office’s view is the characterisation of Bitcoin as equivalent to money for goods and services tax purposes has no bearing on its character for income tax purposes. Instead, it is treated the same as any other trading stock or business asset if the seller is considered a trader.

    This has two implications. First, if the seller realises a gain on the sale of Bitcoin, the full amount of the gain is included in the person’s taxable income, regardless of whether it is sold more or less than one year after acquisition.

    Secondly, and very importantly for some, if an investor has a loss on the sale of Bitcoin – for every winner there is a loser in the investment world – and can convince the tax office they are an active trader, they can recognise the full loss. This means they can use the loss to offset other taxable income including wage and salary or business or professional income.

    Those who have taken the plunge into a Bitcoin investment or those considering the possibility should first consider carefully the tax consequences.

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

    – ref. Do you have Bitcoin? Be aware of the tax consequences of selling your investment – https://theconversation.com/do-you-have-bitcoin-be-aware-of-the-tax-consequences-of-selling-your-investment-259671

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Occupational therapists tackle obstacles in the home, from support to cook a meal, to navigating public transport

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Hitch, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Deakin University

    Occupational therapists (OTs) have been in the spotlight this month after the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) froze NDIS payments for these services at $193.99 per hour for the sixth year.

    The NDIA also cut travel payments for OTs who visit people in their home and community by 50%.

    Health Minister Mark Bulter says it’s important people on the NDIS aren’t paying more for therapy and support than they would pay in the health or aged care system.

    But OTs are concerned this could affect therapists’ viability, including their ability to support people with disability in their homes and communities.

    But what can OTs actually do? And why is it often better to do this in a person’s home and community?

    Who might see an OT?

    Imagine trying to get back to your daily life after a major health setback, such as a car accident or stroke, or an episode of a long-term condition or disability, such as depression or arthritis. The things you used to do with ease can become difficult and exhausting.

    After such a setback, your home or community can also feel like an obstacle course. Maybe you can’t carry the laundry basket out to the line anymore, or you’re struggling to keep up with your children.

    This is where occupational therapy can make a real difference. OTs are health professionals that enable people to do the things they need, want and love to do in daily life, from getting dressed to cooking dinner, gardening to driving.

    Occupational therapists work with people of all ages. They overcome barriers by changing the environments and objects we use, teaching new skills, rehabilitating old ones and tweaking the way we tackle tasks.

    What can OTs do in the home and community?

    Seeing people in their own homes and communities allows the therapist to get a more accurate picture of a person’s strengths and abilities, which can be difficult to understand in a clinic.

    OTs use their skills and creativity to provide personalised care, tailored to individual needs and circumstances.

    An older person with dementia might, for example, cause alarm by putting a plastic kettle on the stove of a hospital kitchen. But they could make their cup of tea perfectly safely at home with their stove top kettle.

    OTs can support home and community mobility, such as checking a wheelchair passes smoothly through doorways and can manoeuvre in tight spaces such as bathrooms.

    But they can also advise on kitchen aids and seating to save energy for people with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, to support them continuing to cook family meals.

    In their work with neurodivergent people of different ages, an OT might help an autistic teen develop sensory strategies to deal with their busy and noisy school day.

    For other people, OT support might help them navigate their local public transport system. Learning and practising skills where they’re used makes it easier to carry them over into everyday life.

    What does the research say?

    Research shows home and community OT can lead to better activity and participation than clinic-based therapy. It’s also cost-effective.

    For stroke survivors, OT makes everyday tasks like showering or getting dressed easier.

    OT at home eases burden and stress for the parents of children with cerebral palsy and carers of people with dementia.

    OT at home helps older people with ongoing health issues to be more actively involved in their communities.

    Community OT is also effective in supporting recovery for people with mental health problems, enabling them to enjoy community and leisure activities, seek and maintain employment and enhance physical activity.

    OT focuses on helping you do the things that keep you well and independent, which means fewer trips back to the hospital. OTs can spot and solve trip hazards within homes, for example, before a frail person has a fall.

    People who get OT at home soon after leaving hospital are less likely to be readmitted. Emerging research also suggests OT can work jointly with paramedics when someone falls at home by visiting and offering immediate treatment that prevent avoidable hospital stays.

    There are some downsides, such as limited access in disadvantaged communities. While telehealth can address some barriers, it is not suitable in every case.

    How do Australians access OTs?

    There are many pathways to access OT services, but the complexity of the health-care system means the process is challenging to navigate.

    OT services can also be costly, due to severely limited funding, equipment and transport costs.

    OT is available as part of Home Care Packages and the Commonwealth Home Support Programme for older people.

    OT has also played a key role in supporting NDIS participants since the scheme’s inception. However, waiting lists often stretch for many months and not everyone knows about what OT can offer.

    You can also access community OT through Medicare Chronic Disease Management plans, local community health centres and councils and through private health insurance rebates.

    Thanks to Lana O’Neil (Occupational Therapist at Western Health in Victoria) and Sarah McCann (Senior Occupational Therapist at Western Health) for sharing their clinical expertise for this article.

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

    – ref. Occupational therapists tackle obstacles in the home, from support to cook a meal, to navigating public transport – https://theconversation.com/occupational-therapists-tackle-obstacles-in-the-home-from-support-to-cook-a-meal-to-navigating-public-transport-259807

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s cutest mammal is now Australia’s cutest three mammals

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cameron Dodd, PhD Student in Evolutionary Biology and Taxonomy, The University of Western Australia

    The long-eared kultarr (_A. auritus_) is the middle child in terms of body size, but it has by far the biggest ears. Ken Johnson

    Australia is home to more than 60 species of carnivorous marsupials in the family Dasyuridae. Almost a quarter of those have only been scientifically recognised in the past 25 years.

    Other than the iconic Tasmanian devil, chances are most of these small, fascinating species have slipped under your radar. One of the rarest and most elusive is the kultarr (Antechinomys laniger), a feisty insect-eater found in very low numbers across much of the outback.

    To the untrained eye, the kultarr looks very much like a hopping mouse, with long legs, a long tail and a tendency to rest on its hind legs. However, it runs much like a greyhound – but its tiny size and high speed makes it look like it’s hopping.

    Kultarr or kultarrs?

    Until now, the kultarr was thought to be a single widespread species, ranging from central New South Wales to the Carnarvon Basin on Australia’s west coast. However, a genetic study in 2023 suggested there could be more than one species.

    With backing from the Australian Biological Resources Study, our team of researchers from the University of Western Australia, Western Australian Museum and Queensland University of Technology set out to investigate.

    We travelled to museums in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth to look at every kultarr that had been collected by scientists over the past century. By combining detailed genetic data with body and skull measurements, we discovered the kultarr isn’t one widespread species, but three distinct species.

    Three species of kultarrs

    The eastern kultarr (A. laniger) is the smallest of the three, with an average body length of about 7.5cm. It’s darker in colour than its relatives, and while its ears are still big, they are nowhere near as big as those of the other two species.

    The eastern kultarr is now found on hard clay soils around Cobar in central NSW and north to around Charleville in southern Queensland.

    The eastern kultarr (A. laniger) is the smallest of the three species.
    Pat Woolley

    The gibber kultarr (A. spenceri) is the largest and stockiest, with an average body length of around 9cm. They are noticeably chunkier than the other two more dainty species, with big heads, thick legs and much longer hindfeet.

    As its name suggests, the gibber kultarr is restricted to the extensive stony deserts or “gibber plains” in southwest Queensland and northeast South Australia.

    The gibber kultarr (A. spenceri) is largest and stockiest.
    Ken Johnson

    The long-eared kultarr (A. auritus) is the middle child in terms of body size, but its ears set it apart. They’re nearly as long as its head.

    It’s found in patchy populations in the central and western sandy deserts, living on isolated stony plains.

    The long-eared kultarr (A. auritus) is the middle child in terms of body size, but it has by far the biggest ears.
    Ken Johnson

    Are they threatened?

    All three species of kultarr are hard to find, making it difficult to confidently estimate population sizes and evaluate extinction risk. The long-eared and gibber kultarrs don’t appear to be in immediate danger, but land clearing and invasive predators such as cats and foxes have likely affected their numbers.

    The three species of kultarr seem to now inhabit smaller areas than in the past.
    Cameron Dodd

    The eastern kultarr, however, is more of a concern. By looking at museum specimens going back all the way to the 1890s, we found it was once much more widespread.

    Historic records suggest the eastern kultarr used to occur across the entirety of arid NSW and even spread north through central Queensland and into the Northern Territory. We now think this species may be extinct in the NT and parts of northwest Queensland.

    What’s next?

    To protect kultarrs into the future, we need targeted surveys to confirm where each species still survives, especially the eastern kultarr, whose current range may be just a shadow of its former extent. With better knowledge, we can prioritise conservation actions where they’re most needed, and ensure these remarkable, long-legged hunters don’t disappear before we truly get to know them.

    Australia still has many small mammal species that haven’t been formally described. Unless we identify and name them, they remain invisible in conservation policy.

    Taxonomic research like this is essential – we can’t protect what we don’t yet know exists. And without action, some species may disappear before they’re ever officially recognised.

    The authors wish to acknowledge the important contributions of Adjunct Professor Mike Westerman at La Trobe University to the research discussed in this article.

    Cameron Dodd receives funding from the Australian Biological Resources Study and Society of Australian Systematic Biologists.

    Andrew M. Baker receives funding from the Federal Government, State Governments, Australian Biological Resources Study and various Industry sources.

    Kenny Travouillon receives funding from Australian Biological Resources Study.

    Linette Umbrello receives funding from the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) National Taxonomy Research Grant Program (NTRGP)

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

    – ref. Australia’s cutest mammal is now Australia’s cutest three mammals – https://theconversation.com/australias-cutest-mammal-is-now-australias-cutest-three-mammals-260006

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Australia’s cutest mammal is now Australia’s cutest three mammals

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Cameron Dodd, PhD Student in Evolutionary Biology and Taxonomy, The University of Western Australia

    The long-eared kultarr (_A. auritus_) is the middle child in terms of body size, but it has by far the biggest ears. Ken Johnson

    Australia is home to more than 60 species of carnivorous marsupials in the family Dasyuridae. Almost a quarter of those have only been scientifically recognised in the past 25 years.

    Other than the iconic Tasmanian devil, chances are most of these small, fascinating species have slipped under your radar. One of the rarest and most elusive is the kultarr (Antechinomys laniger), a feisty insect-eater found in very low numbers across much of the outback.

    To the untrained eye, the kultarr looks very much like a hopping mouse, with long legs, a long tail and a tendency to rest on its hind legs. However, it runs much like a greyhound – but its tiny size and high speed makes it look like it’s hopping.

    Kultarr or kultarrs?

    Until now, the kultarr was thought to be a single widespread species, ranging from central New South Wales to the Carnarvon Basin on Australia’s west coast. However, a genetic study in 2023 suggested there could be more than one species.

    With backing from the Australian Biological Resources Study, our team of researchers from the University of Western Australia, Western Australian Museum and Queensland University of Technology set out to investigate.

    We travelled to museums in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth to look at every kultarr that had been collected by scientists over the past century. By combining detailed genetic data with body and skull measurements, we discovered the kultarr isn’t one widespread species, but three distinct species.

    Three species of kultarrs

    The eastern kultarr (A. laniger) is the smallest of the three, with an average body length of about 7.5cm. It’s darker in colour than its relatives, and while its ears are still big, they are nowhere near as big as those of the other two species.

    The eastern kultarr is now found on hard clay soils around Cobar in central NSW and north to around Charleville in southern Queensland.

    The eastern kultarr (A. laniger) is the smallest of the three species.
    Pat Woolley

    The gibber kultarr (A. spenceri) is the largest and stockiest, with an average body length of around 9cm. They are noticeably chunkier than the other two more dainty species, with big heads, thick legs and much longer hindfeet.

    As its name suggests, the gibber kultarr is restricted to the extensive stony deserts or “gibber plains” in southwest Queensland and northeast South Australia.

    The gibber kultarr (A. spenceri) is largest and stockiest.
    Ken Johnson

    The long-eared kultarr (A. auritus) is the middle child in terms of body size, but its ears set it apart. They’re nearly as long as its head.

    It’s found in patchy populations in the central and western sandy deserts, living on isolated stony plains.

    The long-eared kultarr (A. auritus) is the middle child in terms of body size, but it has by far the biggest ears.
    Ken Johnson

    Are they threatened?

    All three species of kultarr are hard to find, making it difficult to confidently estimate population sizes and evaluate extinction risk. The long-eared and gibber kultarrs don’t appear to be in immediate danger, but land clearing and invasive predators such as cats and foxes have likely affected their numbers.

    The three species of kultarr seem to now inhabit smaller areas than in the past.
    Cameron Dodd

    The eastern kultarr, however, is more of a concern. By looking at museum specimens going back all the way to the 1890s, we found it was once much more widespread.

    Historic records suggest the eastern kultarr used to occur across the entirety of arid NSW and even spread north through central Queensland and into the Northern Territory. We now think this species may be extinct in the NT and parts of northwest Queensland.

    What’s next?

    To protect kultarrs into the future, we need targeted surveys to confirm where each species still survives, especially the eastern kultarr, whose current range may be just a shadow of its former extent. With better knowledge, we can prioritise conservation actions where they’re most needed, and ensure these remarkable, long-legged hunters don’t disappear before we truly get to know them.

    Australia still has many small mammal species that haven’t been formally described. Unless we identify and name them, they remain invisible in conservation policy.

    Taxonomic research like this is essential – we can’t protect what we don’t yet know exists. And without action, some species may disappear before they’re ever officially recognised.

    The authors wish to acknowledge the important contributions of Adjunct Professor Mike Westerman at La Trobe University to the research discussed in this article.

    Cameron Dodd receives funding from the Australian Biological Resources Study and Society of Australian Systematic Biologists.

    Andrew M. Baker receives funding from the Federal Government, State Governments, Australian Biological Resources Study and various Industry sources.

    Kenny Travouillon receives funding from Australian Biological Resources Study.

    Linette Umbrello receives funding from the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) National Taxonomy Research Grant Program (NTRGP)

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

    – ref. Australia’s cutest mammal is now Australia’s cutest three mammals – https://theconversation.com/australias-cutest-mammal-is-now-australias-cutest-three-mammals-260006

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK-US trade deal kicks into gear: immediate tariff cuts for UK auto and aerospace sectors

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK-US trade deal kicks into gear: immediate tariff cuts for UK auto and aerospace sectors

    The UK-US trade deal has today come into force, slashing US export tariffs for the UK’s automotive and aerospace sectors.

    • Immediate benefits for UK auto and aerospace sectors as tariffs are slashed under the UK-US trade deal, protecting British jobs across the country.
    • UK car manufacturers can now export to the US under a reduced 10% tariff quota saving hundreds of millions annually and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.
    • The UK aerospace sector also gains a major boost, with 10% tariffs on goods like engines and aircraft parts removed today and a commitment to maintain them at 0%.

    From today, British car and aerospace manufacturers will benefit from major tariff reductions when exporting to the US, saving thousands of jobs, as the landmark UK-US trade deal comes into effect.

    The UK is the only country to have secured this deal with the US, reducing car export tariffs from 27.5% to 10%, saving manufacturers hundreds of millions each year and protecting hundreds of thousands of jobs.

    At the same time, the aerospace sector has seen the removal of 10% tariffs on goods such as engines and aircraft parts, helping make companies such as Rolls Royce more competitive and allow them to continue to be at the cutting edge of innovation.

    These changes are a huge win for both sectors and will help ensure UK manufacturers remain globally competitive, protect British jobs and continue to lead in innovation and excellence.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    Our historic trade deal with the United States delivers for British businesses and protects UK jobs. From today, our world-class automotive and aerospace industries will see tariffs slashed, safeguarding key industries that are vital to our economy.

    We will always act in the national interest – backing British businesses and workers, delivering on our Plan for Change.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 

    We agreed this deal with the US to protect jobs and support growth in some of our most vital sectors – and today, we’re delivering on that promise for the UK’s world-class automotive and aerospace industries.

    British car manufacturers can now export to the US at a significantly reduced 10% tariff rate – down from 27.5% – and aerospace goods will see 10% tariffs removed, saving sectors hundreds of millions each year and safeguarding thousands of jobs.

    This is a clear example of our Plan for Change in action: cutting costs for businesses, speeding up delivery of trade benefits, and helping UK industries thrive in a challenging global environment.

    Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS said:

    News that tariffs on aerospace goods are to be relaxed is welcome to the industry and regulatory bodies alike.

    The UK’s aerospace sector is renowned for its innovation and excellence, and thanks to our role in the global supply chain, more than 100,000 people are employed in highly skilled jobs in the sector throughout the country.

    Efforts to reach this outcome are hugely appreciated by a sector that has remained resilient against a multitude of external pressures.

    Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of SMMT said:

    The implementation of the new trading agreement between the UK and US is good news for US customers and a huge relief for the UK automotive companies that export to this critically important market.

    It immediately slashes the punitive tariffs that brought the US export market to a standstill and threatened the viability of some of the most famous names in British manufacturing.

    Securing the deal – the first and, so far, only automotive deal in place with the administration – is a diplomatic coup and provides a foundation on which to grow trade in the future. Combined with the new Industrial and Trade Strategies that have automotive at their heart, UK companies can look to the future with more optimism.

    We have worked with the US and all parts of UK industry to build a quota system which is as simple, fair and effective as possible.  

    Thanks to the UK-US deal, the UK is the only country to be exempt from the global tariff of 50% on steel and aluminium. As the Prime Minister and President Trump have again confirmed, we will continue go further and make progress towards 0% tariffs on core steel products as agreed.  

    Today’s announcement demonstrates the kind of agile, sector-specific agreement outlined in the UK’s Trade Strategy — designed to deliver rapid, practical benefits for British businesses and workers in key industries.

    This deal is one of many international agreements this government has secured recently to boost our economy, including a trade deal with India which will add £4.8 billion to the UK economy and £2.2 billion in wages every year, and a renewed EU deal which will add nearly £9 billion to the UK economy by 2040 on SPS and emissions measures alone. 

    Today’s announcement is the result of work happening at pace between both governments to lower the burden on UK businesses, especially the sectors most impacted by the tariffs. We will now update Parliament on the implementation of quotas on US beef and ethanol, as part of our commitment to the US under this deal.  

    Background:

    • The updated federal notice from the US Government confirming the change regarding UK auto and aerospace tariffs is available here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/30/2025-12060/imports-of-automobiles-automobile-parts-civil-aircraft-and-civil-aircraft-parts-from-the-united.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 30 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 30, 2025

  • Netanyahu sees Iran outcome opening door to Gaza hostage return

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday the 12-day war with Iran had created opportunities for Israel, and the first was the return of hostages held in Gaza by Palestinian militants who attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

    His remarks, coupled with the Jerusalem District Court’s postponement of his testimony this week in his long-running corruption trial, gave rise to speculation that progress may be made to end the Gaza conflict and secure the hostages’ release.

    The court accepted on Sunday Netanyahu’s request for the delay, citing classified diplomatic and security grounds. U.S. President Donald Trump had suggested on Saturday the trial could interfere with the Israeli leader’s ability to negotiate.

    Israel’s military Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said on Friday the war in Iran, which ended on June 24, could help advance Israeli objectives against the Iranian-backed Hamas group in the Gaza Strip.

    Israeli public radio Kan said Israel’s security cabinet had met on Sunday evening and would meet again on Monday. Israel’s strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer, a confidant of Netanyahu’s, was expected on Monday at the White House for talks on Iran and Gaza, Israeli media said.

    On a Sunday visit to a security facility of Israel’s Shin Bet domestic intelligence service, Netanyahu said: “I want to inform you that as you probably know, many opportunities have opened up now following this victory, many opportunities.”

    “First of all, to rescue the hostages. Of course we will also have to solve the Gaza issue, to defeat Hamas, but I estimate that we will achieve both tasks,” he said, according to a statement issued by his office.

    Israeli advocates for the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza, known as the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters, said his statement prioritizing the hostages was a first.

    “The families of the hostages welcome the fact that after 20 months, the return of the hostages has finally been designated as the top priority by the prime minister,” they said.

    “This is a very important statement that must translate into a single comprehensive deal to bring back all 50 hostages and end the fighting in Gaza,” their statement said. Of the 50 hostages, only 20 are believed to be alive.

    Trump said on Saturday that Netanyahu was “right now” negotiating a deal with Hamas, though neither leader provided details, and officials on both sides have voiced scepticism over prospects for a ceasefire soon.

    The U.S. has proposed a 60-day ceasefire and a release of half the hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the remains of other Palestinians. Hamas would release the remaining hostages once a permanent ceasefire was in place.

    On Sunday, the Israeli military ordered Palestinians to evacuate areas in northern Gaza before intensified fighting against Hamas.

    A Hamas official told Reuters the group had informed mediators it was ready to resume ceasefire talks, but reaffirmed the group’s outstanding demands that any deal must end the war and secure an Israeli withdrawal from the coastal territory.

    Israel says it can only end the war if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms.

    Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people and took 251 captives back to Gaza in their attack on Israel, according to Israeli tallies.

    Israel’s subsequent military assault has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, displaced almost the entire 2.3 million population and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis.

    (Reuters)

    June 30, 2025

  • EAM Jaishankar on US visit from June 30; to attend Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on July 1

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar will pay an official visit to the United States from 30 June to 2 July at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to participate in the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (QFMM), scheduled for 1 July, an official said on Sunday.

    In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the Quad Foreign Ministers will build upon the discussions held during the last QFMM, which took place in Washington on January 21 this year.

    “They will exchange views on regional and global developments, particularly those concerning the Indo-Pacific, and review the progress made on various Quad initiatives in the run-up to the Quad Leaders’ Summit, which will be hosted by India. The Ministers are also expected to deliberate on new proposals aimed at advancing the shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the MEA statement read.

    EAM Jaishankar will also inaugurate an exhibition titled, “The Human Cost of Terrorism” at the United Nations Headquarters, New York on June 30.

    “The exhibition will highlight the devastating toll of heinous terrorist acts around the world, and the steps taken by the international community to combat terrorism,” the statement noted.

    India’s UN Mission said it will “highlight the devastating toll of heinous terrorist acts around the world”.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host the upcoming QFMM, which will also be attended by Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japan’s Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, next Tuesday in Washington.

    Rubio’s first diplomatic engagement after he took office on January 21 was the Quad foreign ministers meeting, which took place a day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated.

    Next week’s meeting “builds on that momentum to advance a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific”, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the Department of State, Thomas Pigott, said.

    “This is what American leadership looks like: strength, peace, and prosperity,” he said.

    Earlier, S. Jaishankar posted on X that he had a phone conversation with Penny Wong on Thursday in preparation for the Quad meeting.

    The Quad meeting will be the first time the ministers get together after the Pahalgam attack.

    It will come a day before Pakistan takes over the rotating presidency of the Security Council.

    The Quad meeting is expected to lay the groundwork for the Summit to be hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which will bring US President Donald Trump, and Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese of Australia and Shigeru Ishiba of Japan to India.

    At their meeting in February, PM Modi said he looked forward to hosting Trump at the summit.

    The first foreign affairs meeting after Trump’s inauguration showed his administration’s regional priority as China’s threat loomed. However, the world’s attention turned to the Middle East and Ukraine.

    The conflict between Israel and Iran appears to have ebbed for now, freeing some bandwidth to turn attention to the Indo-Pacific, where China poses a challenge to the nations of the region.

    (IANS)

    June 30, 2025

  • Ruthless PSG cruise past Inter Miami 4-0 to reach Club World Cup quarters

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Joao Neves scored twice as Paris St Germain swept aside Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 4-0 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday to secure their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals with ruthless efficiency.

    The French side asserted their dominance within six minutes, with Neves moving unmarked to the far post to power home a precise header from a free kick.

    Neves doubled their lead in the 39th minute after a flowing move as Bradley Barcola found Fabian Ruiz, whose exquisite cross was clinically converted by the Portuguese.

    Any hopes of a Miami comeback were extinguished in the first half as Messi and company barely got a look in, and their misery deepened further when Tomas Aviles turned Desire Doue’s cross into his own net.

    Achraf Hakimi added the fourth, pouncing after his initial shot struck the crossbar, on the stroke of halftime.

    “It was an almost perfect match, we created a lot of chances, and I’m happy yet I think we still need to improve, that’s football,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said.

    Messi became more involved after the break and his header was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma following a quick counter-attack, while he struck the wall with a late free kick that brought the crowd to their feet in anticipation of a consolation goal that never materialised.

    “I’m very proud of my players. Today you could see the difference in class, but football has given us the chance to compete. This is probably the best team in the world with a great coach, but we took them on,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said.

    The Champions League winners march on to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winners of the clash between Flamengo and Bayern Munich.

    -Reuters

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SCST at opening ceremony of 26th International Sports Press Association Asia Congress (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the opening ceremony of the 26th International Sports Press Association (AIPS) Asia Congress today (June 30):
     
    President Gianni Merlo (President of AIPS), Mr Timothy Fok (President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China), President Jung Hee-don (President of AIPS Asia), Kenneth (President of the Hong Kong Sports Press Association, Mr Kenneth Fok), Winfried (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
     
    Good morning and a big welcome to Hong Kong. It gives me great pleasure to join you today for the opening ceremony of the 26th AIPS Asia Congress. First of all, I would like to thank AIPS Asia and the Hong Kong Sports Press Association for bringing this important event to Hong Kong for the first time.
     
    This year 2025 marks a landmark chapter for Hong Kong as a premier sports events hub. In March, we proudly opened the Kai Tak Sports Park, a world-class sports infrastructure. I am sure some of you have already attended thrilling international sports events like the iconic Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, as well as the fascinating concerts that took place at the Kai Tak Stadium. In four weeks’ time, the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 will bring Liverpool (FC) vs AC Milan, and the first ever North London Derby outside London, Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur, to the Kai Tai Stadium. These sold-out matches of course promise to be an extravaganza for football fans in this part of the world. 
     
    In November this year, Hong Kong will join hands with Guangdong Province and Macao SAR (Special Administrative Region) to co-host the 15th National Games of the People’s Republic of China. You know, to quote Ma Long, our ping pong captain of China, for many of the sports, ping pong in particular, winning a National Games gold medal is harder than winning an Olympic gold, because the athletes usually have the accolade of a world champion somewhere. All these events are more than just games and competitions. They showcase Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events and create a festive atmosphere all through our city.
     
    To all our sports journalist friends here, we are going to keep you busy. You will be our partners to capture the many thrilling moments on the stage as well as the compelling human stories behind. Your work will bring all these events to life for audiences around the world, and I look forward to seeing you all at our sports venues, chronicling these defining moments.
     
    Before I close, I cordially invite you to immerse yourself in the unique charm and the iconic attractions of Hong Kong during your stay. I wish the Congress every success and I eagerly anticipate seeing your coverage of our mega events on your platforms. Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    June 30, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: What type of NFP is your organisation?

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Types of NFP organisations

    For tax purposes, the main types of not-for-profits (NFPs) are:

    • charities
    • NFPs that self-assess as income tax exempt
    • taxable NFPs.

    Depending on the type of NFP, your organisation may be eligible for a range of tax concessions. Tax concessions include:

    • income tax exemption
    • fringe benefits tax and GST concessions, and
    • deductible gift recipient (DGR) status.

    NFPs (including charities) are organisations that operate for purpose and not for the profit or gain (either direct or indirect) of individual members. All profits must go back into the services the organisation provides and must not be distributed to members, even if the organisation winds up. They can include:

    • art centres
    • church schools
    • churches
    • community child care centres
    • cultural organisations
    • environmental protection organisations
    • neighbourhood associations
    • public museums and libraries
    • scholarship funds
    • scientific organisations
    • scouts
    • sports clubs
    • surf lifesaving clubs
    • traditional service clubs.

    Governing documents

    NFPs are required to maintain governing documents that demonstrate they operate on a NFP basis, including organisations that self-assess their income tax exemption. They must have and include clauses that prevent the NFP from distributing income or assets to members, both while it operates and when it winds up.

    Is your organisation a charity?

    Generally, charities are eligible for more concessions than other NFPs. Charities must be registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and endorsed by us to access charity tax concessions.

    To be a charity, your organisation must:

    • be a not-for-profit organisation
    • have a charitable purpose
    • be for the public benefit (other than where the charitable purpose is the relief of poverty).

    Examples of charities include:

    • religious groups
    • not-for-profit aged care homes
    • homeless shelters
    • disability service organisations
    • universities and colleges
    • animal welfare organisations
    • artistic or cultural groups.

    Charities can be further broken down into the following types:

    PBIs and HPCs receive wider tax concessions than other charities. Religious institutions that are registered with the ACNC for the charity subtype ‘advancing religion’ may be entitled to access additional tax concessions.

    More information on what is a charity is available on the ACNC websiteExternal Link.

    Taxable NFPs and NFPs that aren’t charities

    Some NFP organisations that aren’t charities are able to self-assess as income tax exempt if they fall into one of the 8 categories outlined in Division 50 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997). NFPs that seek to advance the common interest of their members and don’t benefit the broader community won’t generally meet the requirements for income tax exemption.

    If your organisation is eligible to self-assess, it doesn’t need to be endorsed by us to access the concession.

    NFP organisations that are not eligible to self-assess as income tax exempt are taxable, but may be entitled to special rules for calculating taxable income, lodging income tax returns and special rates of tax.

    Taxable NFP organisations may have to lodge an income tax return or notify us that one is not necessary.

    Deductible gift recipients and NFPs

    Some charities, clubs, societies and associations are also deductible gift recipients (DGRs).

    DGRs are organisations that are entitled to receive tax-deductible gifts. DGRs are either:

    • endorsed by us
    • listed by name in the tax law.

    Tax deductions for gifts are claimed by the person or organisation that makes the gift. Gifts are also referred to as donations.

    To be entitled to receive tax-deductible donations, an organisation (including a charity) must be a DGR.

    MIL OSI News –

    June 30, 2025
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