Category: Asia Pacific

MIL-OSI China: Xi meets Singaporean PM, calling for boosting China-Singapore cooperation

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

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 24, 2025. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in Beijing on Tuesday.

Xi congratulated Wong on his second term in office. Noting that this year marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore, Xi highlighted that the two sides have consistently upheld mutual understanding and respect, which has provided a solid foundation for the stable and healthy development of bilateral relations.

Cooperation between the two countries has aligned with China’s development priorities at various stages, yielding substantial outcomes such as the Suzhou Industrial Park, significantly contributing to each country’s modernization efforts, and also setting a benchmark for cooperation among regional nations, Xi noted.

He called on both sides to draw experience and wisdom from the development process of bilateral relations, inherit and carry forward fine traditions, and enable the tree of China-Singapore friendship to thrive and bear abundant fruits.

Xi emphasized that China and Singapore should firmly grasp the general direction of bilateral friendship, and continuously observe and develop China-Singapore relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective.

He called for consolidating the political foundation of China-Singapore friendship, supporting each other’s core interests and major concerns, and enhancing political mutual trust to facilitate the development of bilateral relations.

China welcomes Singapore’s continued deep engagement in China’s development, Xi said, calling on both sides to promote Belt and Road cooperation, create landmark achievements in areas such as digital economy, green development and artificial intelligence, promote the improvement and upgrading of major projects, and continue to write a new chapter in high-quality cooperation.

Both sides should encourage frequent people-to-people exchanges to deepen cultural exchanges and cooperation and strengthen the popular support for China-Singapore friendship, Xi said.

China has always believed that peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit are the unstoppable trend of the times, Xi said, adding that the world must not revert to hegemonism or be dragged back to the law of the jungle.

China is willing to work with Singapore to stand on the right side of history and uphold fairness and justice, and jointly advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, Xi added.

Wong said that Singapore and China share a deep-rooted and enduring friendship, and the two sides have always respected and trusted each other, ensuring the stable development of bilateral relations and close cooperation.

Singapore will continue to adhere to the one-China policy and oppose “Taiwan independence,” Wong said.

Singapore stands ready to fully leverage the opportunities brought about by China’s prosperity and development, expand bilateral trade and investment, enhance cooperation in digital economy, artificial intelligence, new energy and other fields, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and advance Singapore-China relations to new heights, Wong said.

In the face of a turbulent global landscape, Singapore is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China on regional and multilateral platforms to jointly uphold multilateralism and the international order, Wong added.

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MIL OSI China News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s native bees struggled after the Black Summer fires – but a world-first solution brought them buzzing back

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kit Prendergast, Postdoctoral Researcher, Pollination Ecology, University of Southern Queensland

Kit Prendergast (@bee.babette_performer)

After a devastating bushfire, efforts to help nature recover typically focus on vertebrates and plants. Yet extreme fires can threaten insects, too.

After the Black Summer fires of 2019–20, I embarked on world-first research into whether “bee hotels” – a type of artificial nesting structure – could help native bees recolonise an area.

I installed 1,000 bee hotels in the Jarrah forests of Western Australia, parts of which burned during the Black Summer fires.

After months of monitoring, I concluded – with great excitement and relief – that the project was a success. Native bees were using the structures to lay eggs and raise young. The work shows pollinators such as bees can be aided after fires, to help bring damaged landscapes back to life.

WA’s Jarrah Forest was affected by the Black Summer fires.
Kit Prendergast

Vital wild pollinators

Australia has more than 2,000 species of native bees. They help keep our ecosystems healthy, and play a crucial role in pollinating wildflowers.

Native bees typically nest in holes in trees that occur naturally when beetles bore through wood. When fire destroys trees, bees can be left without a place to nest and reproduce. This prevents them from recolonising habitats after fire.

Under climate change, bushfires in Australia are becoming more frequent and severe. Wood-nesting bees are especially vulnerable to bushfires. For example, fires are recognised as a major threat to the glittering green carpenter bee (Xylocopa aerata), which creates its own holes in wood to nest in.

The worsening fires take place at a time when global populations of wild pollinators, such as bees, are in steady decline. This problem has been well-publicised, although the plight of Australia’s native bees has received less attention.

My research tested whether bee hotels could help our native bees bounce back after fire.

What the research found

The Jarrah Forest of southwest Western Australia is a biodiversity hotspot. The 1,000 bee hotels were installed across five sites in the northern part of the forest, where bushfires burned during the summer of 2019–20.

Bee hotels replicate the holes in wood that native bees nest in. In August 2021, I installed bee hotels of two types: wooden blocks with 15 holes drilled in them, and bunches of about 50 bamboo stems bundled together. I monitored them from September 2021 to March 2022.

At the end of the period I concluded – with great excitement and relief – that the project was a success. Across all bee hotels at the five sites, 832 cavities were occupied by native bees.

Assuming four cells per cavity for each offspring, this meant more than 3,300 native bees would likely emerge in the next generation.

Uptake by bees was initially slow. This was to be expected, because the main group of species that used bee hotels – from the Megachile genus – tend to not be active in the region until late spring.

I found the nests were also used by bees of the genus Hylaeus, as well as tiny Exoneura bees. Other inhabitants included wasps, spiders, ants and crickets.

I also surveyed three burnt sites where bee hotels were not installed. There, I recorded the numbers of native bees foraging on flowers, and compared it to the sites with bee hotels. More native bees were present at the latter sites, which reinforced my findings.

Importantly, the research allowed natural recolonisation. It did not involve installing bee hotels at unburnt sites, then moving them to burnt areas once they were occupied. This could have been disastrous.

Aside from depleting one population, it may have meant native bees were moved to an area where there were not enough flowers, or were forced to compete with existing bee populations.

The research also showed European honey bees could pose a problem for native bees in fire-damaged landscapes. At sites with a higher density of honey bees, fewer native bees were foraging and fewer nests were occupied in the bee hotels.

This supports previous findings by myself and others that honey bees can negatively affect native bees. It adds further evidence that honey bees should not be permitted in sensitive habitats, such as bushland following fire or in national parks.

Empowering bee-saving efforts

My research provides proof that bee hotels can aid in the recovery of cavity-nesting native bees after fires.

This work fills a major gap. While there has been much attention on the recovery of furry animals and plants after fires, there has been far less investment into the recovery of plant pollinators.

Leaving insects to languish after fires isn’t just bad for those species. It also hampers the ability of ecosystems to recover from fire and other damage. This is especially true for pollinators such as native bees, which are vital for plant reproduction.

This work empowers us to help native bees after fires, by providing nesting resources to promote populations.

Kit Prendergast received funding from the federal government’s Bushfire Recovery Grant to undertake this research project, and from Flow Hive to write the research paper. She was previously a member of the Australian Native Bee Association.

– ref. Australia’s native bees struggled after the Black Summer fires – but a world-first solution brought them buzzing back – https://theconversation.com/australias-native-bees-struggled-after-the-black-summer-fires-but-a-world-first-solution-brought-them-buzzing-back-258299

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Headline and underlying inflation in the bottom half of the band

Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

New figures from the ABS show that headline and underlying inflation are now both in the bottom half of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s target band for the first time since August 2021.

In the face of heightened global economic uncertainty, it’s very pleasing to see the progress we’ve made on inflation is substantial and now sustained.

Both headline and underlying inflation fell by more than expected in today’s data.

Headline inflation was 2.1 per cent through the year to May 2025, down from 2.4 per cent in April.

Headline inflation is almost half of what it was in May last year and is at its lowest level since March 2021.

Annual trimmed mean inflation was 2.4 per cent through the year to May 2025, down from 2.8 per cent in April.

Underlying inflation is at its lowest level since November 2021 and has returned to the middle of the RBA’s target band.

Underlying inflation has been in the RBA’s band for six consecutive months. This is the first time this has happened since the monthly inflation series began in 2018.

It was also encouraging to see services inflation moderate substantially to 3.3 per cent through the year to May 2025, down from 4.1 per cent in April.

We know these monthly numbers are volatile, but today’s data shows we’ve made substantial and sustained progress on inflation.

This progress means Australia is better placed and better prepared than other countries for heightened economic uncertainty and volatility around the world.

The Australian economy is not immune from instability in the Middle East, including from the recent volatility in global oil prices.

That’s why the progress we have made together in the economy is so important. No major advanced economy has achieved what we have with unemployment in the low 4s, inflation below 2.5 per cent and the economy continuing to grow.

Electricity prices fell 5.9 per cent in the year to May but would have increased 2.0 per cent without the energy rebates for every household we are rolling out with the states.

Rents rose 4.5 per cent in the year but would have increased 5.7 per cent without the recent increases to Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

Under Labor, inflation is down substantially, real wages are up, unemployment is low, our economy is growing, debt is down and interest rates are falling.

Even with this substantial progress and two interest rate cuts in three months, we know people are still under pressure and we face global economic headwinds.

That’s why the Albanese Labor Government is delivering more real, practical and ongoing help with the cost of living for Australians, with more support set to roll out from Tuesday next week.

MIL OSI News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Heat Adaptation in Central Asia: Household Cooling Choices

Source: Asia Development Bank

This paper examines how households in the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan adapt their cooling strategies to power outages and increasing temperatures. It highlights the importance of reliable power and the potential of solar panels to meet summer energy demands.

MIL OSI Economics –

June 25, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Keith Rankin Analysis – Palestine Israel: Implementing a One-State Solution

Analysis by Keith Rankin.

Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

It’s time that the nations of the world (or at least the influential western nations) accept the reality that all the lands that constituted 1920-1948 Mandatory Palestine should be formally recognised as a single nation-state; ideally called Palestine Israel or Israel-Palestine, but more realistically called Israel.

In other words, the never-viable notion of a two-nation-state division of ‘Israel’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eretz_Israel) should be dropped as a viable solution in favour of the promotion of a liberal bicultural (or multicultural) nation-state. The role model for change could be South Africa.

Jewish and Non-Jewish intellectuals (such as Hans Kohn, Shlomo Sand and Yanis Varoufakis) – on the political left – have been arguing for this ‘one-state-solution’ for over 100 years. It’s just that their voices have always been deamplified by those on the political centre and the political right. (On the centre, we think of people like Joe Biden, Keir Starmer, and their predecessors. On the right, we may consider former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, a leader in the 1940s of the openly fascist Lehi, yet a moderate by today’s Israeli political standards.)

Shlomo Sand outlines the history of the arguments for a single ‘binational’ state in his 2024 book Israel-Palestine: Federation or Apartheid? His vision, which is not quite what I favour, emphasises binationalism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/binationalism), and looks towards these successful liberal examples of bi- or multi- nationalism: Canada, Belgium, Switzerland.

The better framing of this approach, I believe, is biculturalism; though even that is not problem-free, because it is an exclusive concept. What I think would work best for Palestine Israel is also the same as what would work best for Aotearoa New Zealand: multiculturalism with a bicultural (treaty) emphasis. (Ireland could have become something similar, as in Irish rugby; but it went down a failed two-state path, and experienced two substantial civil wars last century.) The ideal is for Palestine Israel to become a liberal democracy in which all people born within its borders become citizens with equal citizenship rights; a nation state which commits to both the domestic and international norms of liberal democracy.

(In a bicultural nation-state, the principal divider is religion; normally people’s religious loyalties are discrete, meaning that being, say, a Muslim or Jew or Christian is mutually exclusive. The word ‘national’ is increasingly used in the 21st century as it was in the 19th century; to refer to a ‘people’ or a ‘race’ rather than to relate to a territory defined by its borders and its sovereign institutions. Ethnicity – the better word is ‘ancestry – is not a discrete concept such as ‘religion’; individual people have multiple ancestries, and should not be required to identify as one over another.)

How can this be achieved?

First, we should note that the status quo in Eretz Israel is at least as unacceptable as Apartheid South Africa was to our world of mostly ‘internationally-civilised’ nation-states. (An internationally civilised state is one that accepts agreed norms in the ways that it relates to other nation states, meaning that it does not indulge in offensive hard-power geopolitics – such as ‘gunboat diplomacy’; and it practises cultural equality. Terrorism is understood as criminality. Such a state does not have to be a ‘democracy’ in the Westminster or American sense; but it should meet open liberal standards in the ways it treats its resident denizens – non-citizens – and it should subscribe to international treaties on matters such as climate sustainability and nuclear energy and election authenticity.)

Second, this desired outcome will not come about by force. The community of liberal nations should simply recognise Eretz Israel as a nation state, based ideally on the prior borders of Mandatory Palestine.

While there should be no demands, such a new nation-state would be risking discriminatory sanctions if it abuses liberal norms; in particular if it implements laws (including civil-marriage laws) that discriminate on the basis of sex, religion, or ancestry. Again, the obvious model is Apartheid South Africa, and the ways that South Africa was excluded from international sport so long as it implemented laws which discriminated on the basis of ethnicity. (Palestinians and many Israelis have Levantine ethnicity. Many Israelis have European, African or Asian co-ethnicity; that non-indigeneity should never be held against them. Nor should the indigeneity of the Palestinians.)

In recognising Eretz Israel as Israel-Palestine (or even just under the name ‘Israel’), a Levantine nation state, Israel’s nuclear status should be addressed and normalised. (Likewise, India and Pakistan should be pressured to join the ‘nuclear club’. One of the most problematic regional asymmetries at present is the advanced nuclear-status of Israel versus the embryonic nuclear status of Iran; Israel at present hides behind its non-membership of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to make it seem that Iran is a bigger nuclear threat to the world than Israel is.)

Recognition of Eretz Israel as a sovereign nation state, under any name, should come with overt expectations of democracy, amnesty, truth, reconciliation, and press freedom. There should be no formal or informal mechanism of ‘settling scores’, no matter how reprehensible anyone’s past or present behaviour has been. Truth trumps vengeance cloaked as ‘accountability’.

Lebanon was an initially successful, but now largely failed, version of a similar attempt at creating a tolerant multicultural nation state in the Levant. Lebanon’s main problem was its belligerent southern neighbour. Israel-Palestine would not have Israel as a neighbour.

Abandon the naïve two-state solution.

There is no way a Palestinian nation-state can be viable. At the very best it could become like a mini-Pakistan or mini-Bangladesh; and even that would take decades. (And the last Israeli prime minister to formalise a two-state future – Yitzhak Rabin – was assassinated in 1995, having achieved a Nobel Peace Prize in 1994.) The two-state-solution agenda seems to be more about deescalating sufficiently for the Palestine issue to disappear from its media prominence; and not at all about ending a forever war which began in 1948.

The present forever war – now in its hottest phase – followed a brutal war for Israeli-Jewish independence and non-Jewish expulsion waged by fascist and non-fascist ‘non-state actors’ from 1939 to 1948 against the British ‘protectors’. That, in turn, followed a prior Palestinian insurrection against the British and the settlers from 1936-1939 (though overshadowed in the international media by the Spanish Civil War), which in its turn followed the 1929 Palestine riots. That’s 96 years of escalating forever violence.

In Summary

Recognise a new expanded state, with or without a new name, but with certain (unenforceable, but well-publicised) expectations. This expectation should be a multi-cultural Levantine sovereign state, embracing adherents of the three Abrahamic faiths (as well as people of other religions, or no religion, as citizens; people born in Israel or Palestine, and documented immigrants): Levantine Jews, Levantine Muslims, Levantine Christians, plus others. All Israelis. And all Palestinians.

*******

Keith Rankin (keith at rankin dot nz), trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 25, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Keith Rankin Analysis – Palestine Israel: Implementing a One-State Solution

Analysis by Keith Rankin.

Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

It’s time that the nations of the world (or at least the influential western nations) accept the reality that all the lands that constituted 1920-1948 Mandatory Palestine should be formally recognised as a single nation-state; ideally called Palestine Israel or Israel-Palestine, but more realistically called Israel.

In other words, the never-viable notion of a two-nation-state division of ‘Israel’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eretz_Israel) should be dropped as a viable solution in favour of the promotion of a liberal bicultural (or multicultural) nation-state. The role model for change could be South Africa.

Jewish and Non-Jewish intellectuals (such as Hans Kohn, Shlomo Sand and Yanis Varoufakis) – on the political left – have been arguing for this ‘one-state-solution’ for over 100 years. It’s just that their voices have always been deamplified by those on the political centre and the political right. (On the centre, we think of people like Joe Biden, Keir Starmer, and their predecessors. On the right, we may consider former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, a leader in the 1940s of the openly fascist Lehi, yet a moderate by today’s Israeli political standards.)

Shlomo Sand outlines the history of the arguments for a single ‘binational’ state in his 2024 book Israel-Palestine: Federation or Apartheid? His vision, which is not quite what I favour, emphasises binationalism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/binationalism), and looks towards these successful liberal examples of bi- or multi- nationalism: Canada, Belgium, Switzerland.

The better framing of this approach, I believe, is biculturalism; though even that is not problem-free, because it is an exclusive concept. What I think would work best for Palestine Israel is also the same as what would work best for Aotearoa New Zealand: multiculturalism with a bicultural (treaty) emphasis. (Ireland could have become something similar, as in Irish rugby; but it went down a failed two-state path, and experienced two substantial civil wars last century.) The ideal is for Palestine Israel to become a liberal democracy in which all people born within its borders become citizens with equal citizenship rights; a nation state which commits to both the domestic and international norms of liberal democracy.

(In a bicultural nation-state, the principal divider is religion; normally people’s religious loyalties are discrete, meaning that being, say, a Muslim or Jew or Christian is mutually exclusive. The word ‘national’ is increasingly used in the 21st century as it was in the 19th century; to refer to a ‘people’ or a ‘race’ rather than to relate to a territory defined by its borders and its sovereign institutions. Ethnicity – the better word is ‘ancestry – is not a discrete concept such as ‘religion’; individual people have multiple ancestries, and should not be required to identify as one over another.)

How can this be achieved?

First, we should note that the status quo in Eretz Israel is at least as unacceptable as Apartheid South Africa was to our world of mostly ‘internationally-civilised’ nation-states. (An internationally civilised state is one that accepts agreed norms in the ways that it relates to other nation states, meaning that it does not indulge in offensive hard-power geopolitics – such as ‘gunboat diplomacy’; and it practises cultural equality. Terrorism is understood as criminality. Such a state does not have to be a ‘democracy’ in the Westminster or American sense; but it should meet open liberal standards in the ways it treats its resident denizens – non-citizens – and it should subscribe to international treaties on matters such as climate sustainability and nuclear energy and election authenticity.)

Second, this desired outcome will not come about by force. The community of liberal nations should simply recognise Eretz Israel as a nation state, based ideally on the prior borders of Mandatory Palestine.

While there should be no demands, such a new nation-state would be risking discriminatory sanctions if it abuses liberal norms; in particular if it implements laws (including civil-marriage laws) that discriminate on the basis of sex, religion, or ancestry. Again, the obvious model is Apartheid South Africa, and the ways that South Africa was excluded from international sport so long as it implemented laws which discriminated on the basis of ethnicity. (Palestinians and many Israelis have Levantine ethnicity. Many Israelis have European, African or Asian co-ethnicity; that non-indigeneity should never be held against them. Nor should the indigeneity of the Palestinians.)

In recognising Eretz Israel as Israel-Palestine (or even just under the name ‘Israel’), a Levantine nation state, Israel’s nuclear status should be addressed and normalised. (Likewise, India and Pakistan should be pressured to join the ‘nuclear club’. One of the most problematic regional asymmetries at present is the advanced nuclear-status of Israel versus the embryonic nuclear status of Iran; Israel at present hides behind its non-membership of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to make it seem that Iran is a bigger nuclear threat to the world than Israel is.)

Recognition of Eretz Israel as a sovereign nation state, under any name, should come with overt expectations of democracy, amnesty, truth, reconciliation, and press freedom. There should be no formal or informal mechanism of ‘settling scores’, no matter how reprehensible anyone’s past or present behaviour has been. Truth trumps vengeance cloaked as ‘accountability’.

Lebanon was an initially successful, but now largely failed, version of a similar attempt at creating a tolerant multicultural nation state in the Levant. Lebanon’s main problem was its belligerent southern neighbour. Israel-Palestine would not have Israel as a neighbour.

Abandon the naïve two-state solution.

There is no way a Palestinian nation-state can be viable. At the very best it could become like a mini-Pakistan or mini-Bangladesh; and even that would take decades. (And the last Israeli prime minister to formalise a two-state future – Yitzhak Rabin – was assassinated in 1995, having achieved a Nobel Peace Prize in 1994.) The two-state-solution agenda seems to be more about deescalating sufficiently for the Palestine issue to disappear from its media prominence; and not at all about ending a forever war which began in 1948.

The present forever war – now in its hottest phase – followed a brutal war for Israeli-Jewish independence and non-Jewish expulsion waged by fascist and non-fascist ‘non-state actors’ from 1939 to 1948 against the British ‘protectors’. That, in turn, followed a prior Palestinian insurrection against the British and the settlers from 1936-1939 (though overshadowed in the international media by the Spanish Civil War), which in its turn followed the 1929 Palestine riots. That’s 96 years of escalating forever violence.

In Summary

Recognise a new expanded state, with or without a new name, but with certain (unenforceable, but well-publicised) expectations. This expectation should be a multi-cultural Levantine sovereign state, embracing adherents of the three Abrahamic faiths (as well as people of other religions, or no religion, as citizens; people born in Israel or Palestine, and documented immigrants): Levantine Jews, Levantine Muslims, Levantine Christians, plus others. All Israelis. And all Palestinians.

*******

Keith Rankin (keith at rankin dot nz), trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Nation vows to bolster support for scientific, technological innovation

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

Robotic arms are displayed during the 9th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan province, June 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

The country has pledged to step up support for scientific and technological innovation, according to a report submitted on Tuesday to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the national legislature.

The report, prepared by the State Council, China’s Cabinet, outlined how China will intensify efforts to achieve scientific and technological breakthroughs and speed up revolutionary advances, amid increasingly fierce global competition and a growing need to enhance high-quality technological output.

Key measures include increasing spending on basic research, improving funding mechanisms that combine competitive and stable support, and raising the organizational level of basic research.

China has achieved steady progress in tackling core technologies, resolving a number of bottleneck issues, the report said. In the integrated circuit sector, the country has strengthened capabilities across the entire industrial chain, from design and manufacturing to packaging and testing.

As a result, the output of integrated circuits rose by 22.2 percent last year, while exports topped 1.1 trillion yuan ($153.3 billion), a record high.

The report said future plans will focus on solidifying the role of enterprises in driving innovation by establishing institutional support, including a research and development reserve fund system. Efforts will also be made to deepen industry-university-research collaboration led by enterprises, enabling them to participate in national decision-making and lead major innovation projects.

The report highlighted the significant progress in developing Beijing, Shanghai and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into global innovation hubs. All three ranked among the world’s top five technology clusters in 2024.

To advance industrial transformation, the report laid out plans for major technological upgrades in manufacturing and large-scale equipment renewal projects. China’s push for intelligent manufacturing has yielded notable outcomes, with the country accounting for more than 50 percent of newly installed industrial robots globally each year, it said.

Additional priorities include accelerating the development of emerging sectors such as biomanufacturing, quantum technology and embodied artificial intelligence. Large-scale demonstration projects will be launched for new technologies, products and applications.

The report noted that a growth mechanism for future industries has already been put in place and that the establishment of a national startup investment fund is being accelerated.

MIL OSI China News –

June 25, 2025
Stock market trades higher as geopolitical tensions ease, Sensex up over 400 points

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The Indian benchmark indices opened over 400 points up on Wednesday amid positive global cues, as buying was seen in the IT, auto and pharma sectors in the early trade.

At around 9.25 am, Sensex was trading 445.6 points or 0.54 per cent up at 82,500.73 while the Nifty added 130.15 point or 0.52 per cent at 25,174.50

According to analysts, a significant feature of the recent market trend has been its resilience despite major challenges like the West Asian crisis.

“Even during the short India-Pakistan conflict, the market has been resilient. A significant contributor to this resilience has been FII buying during the crisis,” said Dr VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited.

Nifty Bank was up 31.25 points or 0.06 per cent at 56,493.15. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 58,867.80 after adding 245.40 points or 0.42 per cent. Nifty Smallcap 100 index was at 18,617.85 after climbing 165.10 points or 0.89 per cent.

Meanwhile, in the Sensex pack, Titan, UltraTech Cement, Trent, HCL Tech, Adani Ports, Tech Mahindra, Tata Steel, PowerGrid, Hindustan Unilever Limited and L&T were the top gainers. Kotak Mahindra Bank, ICICI Bank, BEL, and Axis Bank were the top losers.

Interestingly, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have been selling as the Mideast crisis blows over. On the other hand, domestic institutional investors (DIIs) have been sustained buyers in the market, thanks to the continuing inflows into mutual funds, said experts.

This will impart resilience to the market even when FIIs sell on valuation concerns, they added.

FIIs were net sellers on June 24, selling equities worth Rs 5,266.01 crore. Meanwhile, DIIs remained buyers, purchasing equities worth Rs 5,209.60 crore.

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

In the last trading session, Dow Jones in the US closed at 42,581.78, up 507.24 points, or 1.19 per cent. The S&P 500 ended with a gain of 67.01 points, or 1.11 per cent, at 6,025.17 and the Nasdaq closed at 19,630.97, up 281.56 points, or 1.43 per cent.

(IANS)

June 25, 2025
Neeraj Chopra wins Ostrava Golden Spike meet with a throw of 85.29m

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra won the javelin throw title at the Ostrava Golden Spike 2025 meet with a best throw of 85.29 metres during the one-day competition held on Tuesday.

Neeraj clinched victory with one throw remaining, as his third-attempt effort of 85.29m remained unbeaten through all six rounds, securing him yet another top podium finish this season. This marks his second title within a month, following his recent triumph at the Paris Diamond League.

The 27-year-old athlete from Haryana delivered his best throw in the third round. He finished first ahead of Douw Smit of South Africa, who threw 84.12m, and Anderson Peters of Grenada, who managed 83.63m, securing second and third place, respectively.

Neeraj, who made history by winning India’s first Olympic gold medal in athletics at Tokyo 2020, and a silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has been in fine form this season. After winning the Paris Diamond League, he was keen to extend his winning streak in Ostrava—and he did just that.

However, while he secured the top spot, the distance might leave him slightly disappointed, as he has previously surpassed the 90-metre mark and is aiming to breach that barrier again soon.

The competition didn’t start smoothly for Neeraj. His first attempt was a foul, and his second throw measured 83.45m. But he made a strong comeback on his third attempt, launching the spear to 85.29m, which proved to be the winning throw. Douw Smit followed with 84.12m, and Anderson Peters was close behind with 83.63m.

Neeraj could not better his distance in the remaining attempts. He recorded 82.17m in the fourth, 81.01m in the fifth, and deliberately fouled his final throw, opting not to complete it after an unsatisfactory release.

Despite not crossing the 90-metre mark, Neeraj Chopra’s consistency and commanding performance reaffirm his status as one of the top javelin throwers in the world.

(With inputs from IANS)

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Wanted to arrest: Solomon Kapua Apihai

Source: New Zealand Police

Auckland City Police is seeking information on the whereabouts of Solomon Kapua Apihai.

The 41-year-old has a warrant for his arrest for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The Wesley resident is currently avoiding Police.

“We strongly encourage Apihai to hand himself in at his nearest Police station,” acting Detective Senior Sergeant Rebecca Kirk says.

“Anyone who sees him or has information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Police.”

If you see Apihai, contact 111 immediately.

Further information can also be reported to Police online now or by calling 105 using the reference number 250623/5869.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: World-leading approach to domestic tourism data

Source: Australian Attorney General’s Agencies

After nearly three decades relying on the National Visitor Survey, Tourism Research Australia is adopting a new, higher quality and innovative way of measuring domestic travel, with the rollout of the quarterly Domestic Tourism Statistics (DoTS) from today.

Australia is the best country in the world, and we want to do all we can to encourage people to holiday at home. DoTS will provide an improved snapshot of domestic travel, which will help governments, industry and businesses to better understand and respond to trends.

The first of these releases, covering the March quarter 2025, demonstrated the strength of the Aussie summer holiday, with nearly 29 million overnight trips and more than $27 billion spent across the country.

The new methodology combines mobile phone data and survey information, for a more cost-effective, and world-leading approach to measuring tourism. DoTS has also been designed to adapt to include new data sources in the future.

The full report can be read on Tourism Research Australia’s website.

MIL OSI News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: 134th MSG strengthens joint readiness in Japan

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

OKINAWA, Japan – More than 120 Airmen from the Tennessee Air National Guard’s 134th Mission Support Group deployed to Okinawa for annual field training in June 2025, immersing themselves in a high-tempo, joint environment that included collaboration with U.S. Marines, active-duty Airmen and host nation forces.

MIL Security OSI –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Navy Honors 80th Anniversary of Battle of Okinawa at Candle Lighting

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

ITOMAN, OKINAWA, Japan (June 22, 2025) — U.S. Navy Sailors and family members joined local Okinawan volunteers at Peace Memorial Park on June 22 to prepare nearly 7,000 candles for a vigil on the eve of Okinawa Memorial Day. The event honored the 80th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa — an 82-day conflict in 1945 that claimed more than 200,000 lives and stands as the deadliest battle of the Pacific theater during WWII.

MIL Security OSI –

June 25, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Joh: The Last King of Queensland captures Bjelke-Petersen’s political persona – but omits key details of the story

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Mickel, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Justice, Queensland University of Technology

Stan

The new documentary film Joh: The Last King of Queensland offers a dramatised account of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s premiership from 1968 to 1987.

Directed by Kriv Stenders, using reenactments (Bjelke-Petersen is played by Richard Roxburgh), archival footage and contemporary interviews, the film portrays him as a complex and polarising figure.

We are given a man who is socially conservative, economically ambitious and politically divisive. A man who profoundly shaped Queensland’s governance and development.

But while the film effectively captures his popular appeal and role in the state’s economic transformation, it simplifies key aspects of his political ascent.

In particular, it doesn’t capture the complexities of electoral mechanics, internal party maneuvering and the influence of the public service.

National Party dominance

We start with Bjelke-Petersen’s rural upbringing. Stenders emphasises the formative impact of his Lutheran faith, personal abstinence, strong work ethic and family values. These would be foundational to his leadership style.

Roxburgh highlights Bjelke-Petersen’s rhetorical simplicity. He presented himself as an advocate for “ordinary” Queenslanders, especially in rural and conservative communities.

A central critique of Bjelke-Petersen was his manipulation of Queensland’s electoral system.

The film illustrates how electoral malapportionment advantaged rural constituencies, fuelling the National Party’s dominance. But this treatment lacks nuance.

Richard Roxburgh plays Joh Bjelke-Petersen, highlighting his rhetorical simplicity.
Stan

Former MP David Byrne’s claim that Bjelke-Petersen remained premier solely due to the electoral system is presented uncritically.

The National Party outpolled the Liberals from 1977 on. Labor failed to win a statewide majority until 1989, under boundaries drawn by Bjelke-Petersen’s administration in 1986.

The narrative also omits the fact that electoral bias originated under earlier Labor governments.

While Roxburgh’s character mentions this legacy, his claim that there was “not a peep” of dissent overlooks sustained criticism from opposition leader Frank Nicklin throughout the 1950s.

The party apparatus

The film omits several key figures whose contributions were instrumental to the success of the Bjelke-Petersen era.

The organisational acumen of National Party president Robert Sparkes and state secretary Mike Evans played a critical role in constructing a highly efficient party apparatus.

Through the coordination of financial resources and the strategic mobilisation of grassroots support, Sparkes and Evans substantially reinforced Bjelke-Petersen’s leadership and electoral resilience.

Also excluded are prominent members of the premier’s personal staff, such as media advisor Allen Callaghan and policy researcher Wendy Armstrong. Both contributed significantly to shaping public messaging and policy development.

Bjelke-Petersen was premier of Queensland from 1968 to 1987.
Stan

We do not hear about the contributions of senior public servants such as Sydney Schubert, coordinator-general, and Leo Hielscher, under-treasurer.

Schubert was instrumental in expediting infrastructure development across the state. Hielscher ensured Queensland maintained its AAA credit rating and successfully attracted international investment.

These administrative achievements were central to the state’s economic growth.

Bjelke-Petersen was frequently detached from the formal processes of cabinet and Westminster governance. But his reliance on a capable and loyal bureaucracy underscores a distinct, if unconventional, mode of operation.

This model, characterised by strong administrative delegation, contributed to the longevity and effectiveness of his premiership.

Winning seats, suppressing rights

The film addresses his opposition to the Whitlam government and his promotion of states’ rights. Both cemented his popularity. It highlights his decision to abolish death duties – a move that allowed him to present a low-tax, pro-development agenda.

Bjelke-Petersen’s authoritarian style is explored through archival footage of the 1971 protests during South Africa’s rugby tour of Australia. But the film fails to contextualise electoral reaction.

The government won seats, including central Brisbane and Maryborough, in by-elections held at the height of the protest activity.

His later suppression of civil liberties, particularly against students, unions and Indigenous activists, is acknowledged.

Corruption flourished under Bjelke-Petersen’s administration due to insufficient oversight and a permissive political culture.
Stan

The depiction of the “Joh for PM” campaign presents it as a significant strategic miscalculation. Stenders illustrates the limits of Bjelke-Petersen’s political judgement beyond the state level.

Investigative journalist Chris Masters is interviewed about his role in creating the Four Corners exposé which served as a catalyst for the Fitzgerald Inquiry (1987–89).

This inquiry uncovered extensive political and police corruption. It exposed entrenched institutional malpractice, and contributed decisively to the erosion of Bjelke-Petersen’s political legitimacy.

Such corruption was longstanding and predated Bjelke-Petersen’s tenure. It flourished under his administration due to insufficient oversight and a permissive political culture.

Emotional resonance, but not fully nuanced

While the film suggests that Bjelke-Petersen was never personally corrupt (and he was never convicted of any criminal offence) it omits a pivotal episode in his political downfall.

According to journalist Matthew Condon, Springwood MP Huan Fraser publicly accused the Premier of corruption during a 1987 National Party meeting.

Fraser’s confrontation, reportedly triggered by Bjelke-Petersen’s push to approve what was then the world’s tallest building, marked a significant rupture within the party.

The proposed project symbolised growing concerns about impropriety and unchecked executive power during his premiership.

Joh: The Last King of Queensland succeeds in capturing the emotional resonance of Bjelke-Petersen’s political persona. But it stops short of delivering a fully nuanced account.

His legacy continues to polarise. To supporters, he remains a visionary who championed economic growth and conservative values. To critics, he presided over an era of democratic erosion, civil rights suppression and entrenched corruption.

His story reflects the enduring tension between executive authority and democratic accountability in modern Australian political history.

Joh: The Last King of Queensland is on Stan now.

John Mickel 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. Joh: The Last King of Queensland captures Bjelke-Petersen’s political persona – but omits key details of the story – https://theconversation.com/joh-the-last-king-of-queensland-captures-bjelke-petersens-political-persona-but-omits-key-details-of-the-story-257813

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 25, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: What’s the difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gemma Sharp, Researcher in Body Image, Eating and Weight Disorders, Monash University

PIKSEL/Getty

Following a particular diet or exercising a great deal are common and even encouraged in our health and image-conscious culture. With increased awareness of food allergies and other dietary requirements, it’s also not uncommon for someone to restrict or eliminate certain foods.

But these behaviours may also be the sign of an unhealthy relationship with food. You can have a problematic pattern of eating without being diagnosed with an eating disorder.

So, where’s the line? What is disordered eating, and what is an eating disorder?

What is disordered eating?

Disordered eating describes negative attitudes and behaviours towards food and eating that can lead to a disturbed eating pattern.

It can involve:
- dieting
- skipping meals
- avoiding certain food groups
- binge eating
- misusing laxatives and weight-loss medications
- inducing vomiting (sometimes known as purging)
- exercising compulsively.
Disordered eating is the term used when these behaviours are not frequent and/or severe enough to meet an eating disorder diagnosis.

Not everyone who engages in these behaviours will develop an eating disorder. But disordered eating – particularly dieting – usually precedes an eating disorder.

What is an eating disorder?

Eating disorders are complex psychiatric illnesses that can negatively affect a person’s body, mind and social life. They’re characterised by persistent disturbances in how someone thinks, feels and behaves around eating and their bodies.

To make a diagnosis, a qualified health professional will use a combination of standardised questionnaires, as well as more general questioning. These will determine how frequent and severe the behaviours are, and how they affect day-to-day functioning.

Examples of clinical diagnoses include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.

How common are eating disorders and disordered eating?

The answer can vary quite radically depending on the study and how it defines disordered behaviours and attitudes.

An estimated 8.4% of women and 2.2% of men will develop an eating disorder at some point in their lives. This is most common during adolescence.

Disordered eating is also particularly common in young people with 30% of girls and 17% of boys aged 6–18 years reporting engaging in these behaviours.

Although the research is still emerging, it appears disordered eating and eating disorders are even more common in gender diverse people.

Can we prevent eating disorders?

There is some evidence eating disorder prevention programs that target risk factors – such as dieting and concerns about shape and weight – can be effective to some extent in the short term.

The issue is most of these studies last only a few months. So we can’t determine whether the people involved went on to develop an eating disorder in the longer term.

In addition, most studies have involved girls or women in late high school and university. By this age, eating disorders have usually already emerged. So, this research cannot tell us as much about eating disorder prevention and it also neglects the wide range of people at risk of eating disorders.

Is orthorexia an eating disorder?

In defining the line between eating disorders and disordered eating, orthorexia nervosa is a contentious issue.

The name literally means “proper appetite” and involves a pathological obsession with proper nutrition, characterised by a restrictive diet and rigidly avoiding foods believed to be “unhealthy” or “impure”.

These disordered eating behaviours need to be taken seriously as they can lead to malnourishment, loss of relationships, and overall poor quality of life.

However, orthorexia nervosa is not an official eating disorder in any diagnostic manual.

Additionally, with the popularity of special diets (such as keto or paleo), time-restricted eating, and dietary requirements (for example, gluten-free) it can sometimes be hard to decipher when concerns about diet have become disordered, or may even be an eating disorder.

For example, around 6% of people have a food allergy. Emerging evidence suggests they are also more likely to have restrictive types of eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.

However, following a special diet such as veganism, or having a food allergy, does not automatically lead to disordered eating or an eating disorder.

It is important to recognise people’s different motivations for eating or avoiding certain foods. For example, a vegan may restrict certain food groups due to animal rights concerns, rather than disordered eating symptoms.

What to look out for

If you’re concerned about your own relationship with food or that of a loved one, here are some signs to look out for:
- preoccupation with food and food preparation
- cutting out food groups or skipping meals entirely
- obsession with body weight or shape
- large fluctuations in weight
- compulsive exercise
- mood changes and social withdrawal.
It’s always best to seek help early. But it is never too late to seek help.

In Australia, if you are experiencing difficulties in your relationships with food and your body, you can contact the Butterfly Foundation’s national helpline on 1800 33 4673 (or via their online chat).

For parents concerned their child might be developing concerning relationships with food, weight and body image, Feed Your Instinct highlights common warning signs, provides useful information about help seeking and can generate a personalised report to take to a health professional.

Gemma Sharp receives funding from an NHMRC Investigator Grant. She is a Professor and the Founding Director and Member of the Consortium for Research in Eating Disorders, a registered charity.

– ref. What’s the difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating? – https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-an-eating-disorder-and-disordered-eating-256787
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
June 25, 2025
‘Bringing laurels to country’: Shubhanshu Shukla’s parents express their happiness ahead of Axiom-4 mission

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Joy, pride, and excitement swept through Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to make history with the Axiom-4 mission, set to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday.

The Indian Air Force Group Captain, hailing from Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow, is heading to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 Mission.

Shukla’s father, Shambhu Dayal, expressed that his son’s achievement brings pride not only to Lucknow but also to the entire nation.

“…His mission is set to launch around 12 noon IST. We are very eager to see his mission launch. We are delighted. Our blessings are with him, and we also pray to God for his mission to be completed well… He is fully prepared… It feels great to see all the posters that have been put up for him… He is bringing laurels to Lucknow, the state and our country… We are proud of him,” Shambhu Sayal said.

Asha Shukla, Shubhanshu’s mother, praised her daughter-in-law for her unwavering support ahead of the mission, emphasizing that this achievement wouldn’t have been possible without her.
“It is a moment of pride for us and everyone else. Posters are being put up everywhere. Everyone is delighted that a man from this country, this Triveni Nagar, is going to soar so high… We are sending all our wishes and blessings to him… He has all the support of our daughter-in-law. This could not have been possible without her… She has played the biggest role here,” she added.

The Axiom-4 mission is targeting a launch window of 2:31 a.m. EDT or 12 noon IST on Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the US.
The crew, piloted by India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket. The targeted docking time is approximately 7 am EDT on Thursday, or 4 pm IST.

The four-member crew, which has been in quarantine in Florida, will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight. The mission specialists are ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

The Ax-4 mission will “realise the return” to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While Ax-4 marks these countries’ second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space Station.

For Group Captain Shukla, this will be an opportunity to emulate fellow Indian Air Force Officer Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984 as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. Sharma spent seven days in space on board the Salyut 7 space station.

The Ax-4 mission is also conducting major research. The research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the UAE, and nations across Europe.
For ISRO and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, this mission lays the groundwork for India’s space roadmap to land an Indian on the Moon by 2040.

(With inputs from ANI)

June 25, 2025
‘Want to ignite curiosity among children,’ says IAF Shubhanshu Shukla as Ax-4 gets ready to take wings

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will pilot the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), is one of the four astronauts selected for ISRO’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission.

Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shukla was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in June 2006. A highly accomplished combat leader and seasoned test pilot, he has amassed over 2,000 hours of flight experience across a wide range of aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.

In 2019, Shukla began intensive training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Moscow—a rigorous, year-long preparation that set the course for his spaceflight journey. On February 27, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially introduced Shukla as one of the astronauts undergoing advanced training for Gaganyaan, India’s maiden human spaceflight mission, scheduled for launch in 2025.

Now, Group Captain Shukla is gearing up to pilot the historic Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), marking a major milestone in India’s human spaceflight journey.

“I found out I was going probably a week before we arrived at Axiom. I was extremely excited—this was a real opportunity to actually fly to space. You don’t even know how to respond to something like that,” Shukla shared in a YouTube video posted by the Ax-4 mission team.

The Ax-4 crew will be led by Mission Commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and current Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space. She praised Shukla’s capabilities:

“For me, having him as my pilot in the Dragon capsule is great. He already has that operational savvy—he’s just wicked smart when it comes to spacecraft technologies,” Whitson remarked.

Shukla will pilot a three-member crew that includes Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both serving as mission specialists.

“The team I’m flying with on this mission is fantastic. I truly feel I have exceptional crewmates. While I’ll fly with them just this once, these are people who will remain my friends for life,” said Shukla.

Group Captain Shukla’s participation in Ax-4 is poised to inspire a new generation, just as Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma did in 1984 when he became the first Indian in space.

“It has been an amazing journey. These are the kind of moments that make you realize you’re part of something far greater than yourself. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this mission. My sincere endeavour is to inspire a generation back home in India. If my story can ignite curiosity or change even one life, that alone would make this mission a success for me,” Shukla said.

As Ax-4 lifts off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, it will not only mark a new chapter for commercial spaceflight but also a defining moment in India’s journey into human space exploration.

(With inputs from ANI)

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Doorstop – University of New South Wales

Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

JASON CLARE, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION: G’ day, everybody. It’s great to be here at the University of New South Wales, my old university that I went to last century, to talk about the things that we’re doing to build a better and a fairer education system this century.

There are big things happening in education. Today the Prime Minister has released numbers that show that our cheaper child care laws are delivering thousands of dollars in savings for the average family. The data he’s released today shows that for an average family with a child in child care three days a week, they’ve saved about $7,000 dollars over the last two years. That’s $7,000 dollars less that they’ve had to spend on child care than they otherwise would because of the reforms that we put in place a couple of years ago.

In school education, we’re driving big reform as well. We’re fixing the funding of our public schools with the biggest new investment in public education by an Australian Government ever, something like $16.5 billion extra that we’re investing in public schools over the next decade. And later this week, on Friday, I’ll convene the first meeting of Education Ministers since the election. One of the things that will be on the agenda for us to discuss is the implementation of that agreement, the next steps in making sure that this funding is linked to reform, and that that reform drives the sort of outcomes that we all want. Fundamentally, more young people finishing high school and then going on to TAFE or going on to university.

Which brings me to the big reforms that are happening in higher education. Next week, paid prac will start for the first time. That’s financial support from the Commonwealth Government to help teaching students, nursing students, midwifery students and social work students while they do practical part of their degree. A bit of financial support to help them while they’re doing their practical training. It’s never happened before. It’s one of the recommendations that came out of the Universities Accord, which is a blueprint for how we reform our higher education system over the next decade and beyond.

And today, some more good news. Today, some data has been released by my department that shows that the number of Aussie students starting a university degree are bouncing back big time. The data that we’ve released today shows that when you take out the two years of COVID, which are a bit of an anomaly because people went to university during that period of time at record numbers, when you take out those two years of COVID, the number of Australian students starting an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree this year looks set to be the highest on record. And that’s a good thing. We want more people to finish school. We want more people to be able to go to TAFE or go to university, get the skills that they need. We want more Aussies to get more skills and to be able to get the careers of their dreams.

And the young people that I’ve had a chance to speak to today are just a couple of examples of people who are building the life of their dreams through the work that they’re doing here at my old university, the University of New South Wales, studying everything from medicine to law to chemistry to software engineering. I forgot one other – economics and maths. All fortunate recipients of the Gateway Program here at the University of New South Wales, which is helping a lot of young people from underrepresented groups to get a crack at going to university. This program, in a nutshell, is everything that I’m about, making sure that more kids, like the kid that I was growing up in Western Sydney, get a crack at going to university and build the career of their dreams. So, to tell their story rather than mine, can I ask Sam to tell us a little bit about yourself, what you’re doing and why the Gateway Program is so important for you?

SAM: Brilliant. Thank you, Jason. So, yeah, I came from a country town called Goulburn, so near Canberra. And I think the thing is that most people in Goulburn don’t typically leave Goulburn. And although I love Goulburn, I did want to move on and so I fell in love with UNSW. I remember one day in September; I made the two hour trip on the train all the way up to the Open Day and I knew as soon as I got here that that’s exactly what I wanted to do. And so, I just needed to figure out actually how to get here. And that was through the Gateway Program. So, then I made my way up to UNSW after HSC and I’m now doing a Bachelor of Advanced Science majoring in chemistry. I absolutely love it. It’s the best decision I could have made for myself. And I think I can thank my high school teachers, but also the lecturers here at the university for that, because it’s been just such a great experience. And even more so, I now get to give back to the Gateway Program, which helped me get here with my fellow ambassadors, as I am now also a Gateway Ambassador. I get to go to schools; I get to talk to kids and just show them exactly what university education can be like.

CLARE: Thanks mate, reminds me, I’ve got to buy myself a new hoodie. Over to you.

JOURNALIST: You mentioned the record number that we’re seeing apart from COVID and there’s been a particular boost in teaching and nursing. Do you think that could be partially attributed to the placements coming into effect next week?

CLARE: I think it’s part of it. Over the course of the last few years, a couple of things have happened, particularly to encourage more people to want to be a school teacher. There’s been big pay rises announced for new teachers here in New South Wales, but also in South Australia, in WA and the Northern Territory. There’s been a lot of work to try and reduce the unnecessary workload or burden that we place on school teachers to give them more time to teach. We ran a campaign a little over a year ago called ‘Be that Teacher’, which was really about sending a message to the whole country about how important our school teachers are. This is the most important job in the world. One of the great things I got out of our conversation a little while ago is that all of the young people I spoke to today, whether they’re thinking about becoming a lawyer or a doctor or a software engineer or an economist, are also thinking about becoming a teacher. And how they could do that either someday here at university or in the classroom of our schools.

The scholarships that we’re rolling out, $40,000 dollar scholarships to encourage people to become a school teacher, are working. I think that’s a big part of it, but paid prac is important as well. The other thing that’s worth pointing out in these numbers is that we’re seeing a boost in the number of people doing an undergraduate degree, but also a big boost in the number of people doing a postgraduate degree. Two things there; I think that shows that more and more people are thinking about coming back to university to get more skills, to reskill or to upskill. And we’re going to see more of that in the years ahead. But also, when it comes to school teaching in particular, this year we expect to see a jump of about 15 per cent in the number of people doing the masters degree, the course that people do after they’ve done another degree in another area of expertise, to become a school teacher. And that’s a really good thing because we want people to burst out of school and go to uni and want to become a school teacher. But we also want young people like this who might have had another career to think, “okay, now I’m going to do the masters degree and I’m going to become a school teacher as well.” And the data out today shows us that’s happening.

JOURNALIST: Minister, what has the response of your electorate been over the conflict in the Middle East?

CLARE: Over the course of almost two years now, the conflict in the Middle East, in particular the death and the destruction in Gaza, has been horrific for my community. The dead bodies that we see on our television every night for my community aren’t just numbers, aren’t just anonymous people, often their family or their friends. And that’s why this is so personal. My community, the whole country, I think the whole world wants to see an end to the violence, to the suffering, to the catastrophe that’s happening in Gaza. They want to see an end to all of the violence happening in the Middle East. And that’s why we hold our breath, and we hold our hopes that the ceasefire holds between Israel and Iran as well.

JOURNALIST: On the university rankings as well, the QS rankings that came out UNSW is still in the top 20 and remained relatively stable, but we did see quite a few universities going backwards. I guess, is that a concern for the Government? And particularly suggestions that it could be related to debate over international student loan policies?

CLARE: My position on this has been consistent. The mark of a great university isn’t just a ranking, isn’t just a number, it’s about students. It’s about the work that the universities do to produce young people like this. In truth, you’ve produced yourself. There’s a reason that you’re here and it sits within yourself. But it’s great universities that help you to get here. It’s gateway programs like the program here at my old university, the University of New South Wales, which is making a difference in people’s lives.

There was an article written a couple of weeks ago about the focus that I have placed in my first term as Education Minister on students. And that is true whether it’s the Student Ombudsman, whether it’s the fee-free courses to help young people that aren’t ready for university to be ready for university, whether it’s these paid prac payments or anything else. Yes, I’ve been deadly focused, directly focused, on helping students to get to university, but not just get here to succeed when they get here. And the data shows us that a lot of young people, particularly young people from underrepresented groups from poor backgrounds, from the regions from the outer suburbs, are more likely not to finish a degree than other people. And so, the next step in the reform program, big structural change, is around fixing the funding of our universities, you’ll see that roll out next year, including demand-driven funding for equity students and a real needs-based funding approach to universities a la the Gonski model. We’re finishing and fixing the funding of our public schools. A similar model we want to roll out to our universities so that we’re funding students based on need and making sure that more young people who start a degree finish a degree.

JOURNALIST: And that includes the Jobs-ready Graduate Scheme?

CLARE: That’ll be one of the things that we’re going to ask the new ATEC to look at. And the interim version of the ATEC led by Mary O’ Kane, will kick off next Tuesday.

JOURNALIST: I just have one more as well about Albanese last week said he’s ruled out renewing the religious discrimination law, that obviously there was a big review commission to that. Is that a position that you maintain as well? And do you expect there’ll be any reforms to the independent private sector in the next term?

CLARE: What the Prime Minister has said repeatedly here is that reform here requires bipartisanship. And that was more important in the last term than ever before, given the conflicts overseas and the propensity for a debate around religious freedom or religious discrimination to aggravate the tensions that already exist in our community because of the catastrophe happening overseas. And I still think it holds that reform here requires bipartisanship. We’ve got a new Opposition Leader. I do hold out hope that Sussan Ley, unlike Peter Dutton, will reach across the aisle and try to work with us on more things. Thanks.

MIL OSI News –

June 25, 2025
We salute every person who stood firm in fight against Emergency: PM Modi

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated the commitment to strengthening the principles in the Constitution and working together to realise the nation’s vision of a Viksit Bharat.

He said this on Wednesday while marking 50 years of the imposition of the Emergency in the country.

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote that this day marks 50 years of one of the darkest chapters in India’s history when the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside.

“Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history, the imposition of the Emergency. The people of India mark this day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. On this day, the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom was extinguished and several political leaders, social workers, students and ordinary citizens were jailed.”

“It was as if the Congress Government in power at that time placed democracy under arrest!” said PM Modi.

He said the country salutes every person who stood up against the tyranny.

“We salute every person who stood firm in the fight against the Emergency! These were the people from all over India, from all walks of life, from diverse ideologies who worked closely with each other with one aim: to protect India’s democratic fabric and to preserve the ideals for which our freedom fighters devoted their lives.”

The Prime Minister said in his post that it was their collective struggle that ensured that the then Congress government had to restore democracy and call for fresh elections, which they badly lost.

Reiterating the commitment to the Constitution and its values, he said, “We also reiterate our commitment to strengthening the principles in our Constitution and working together to realise our vision of a Viksit Bharat.”

“May we scale new heights of progress and fulfil the dreams of the poor and downtrodden,” he added.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is observing the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, which was imposed by the Indira Gandhi-led government in 1975, as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ (Constitution Murder Day).

The party has planned extensive outreach programmes at district and booth levels across the country to mark the day as a “dark chapter” in India’s democratic history.

(IANS)

June 25, 2025
We salute every person who stood firm in fight against Emergency: PM Modi

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated the commitment to strengthening the principles in the Constitution and working together to realise the nation’s vision of a Viksit Bharat.

He said this on Wednesday while marking 50 years of the imposition of the Emergency in the country.

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote that this day marks 50 years of one of the darkest chapters in India’s history when the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside.

“Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history, the imposition of the Emergency. The people of India mark this day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. On this day, the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom was extinguished and several political leaders, social workers, students and ordinary citizens were jailed.”

“It was as if the Congress Government in power at that time placed democracy under arrest!” said PM Modi.

He said the country salutes every person who stood up against the tyranny.

“We salute every person who stood firm in the fight against the Emergency! These were the people from all over India, from all walks of life, from diverse ideologies who worked closely with each other with one aim: to protect India’s democratic fabric and to preserve the ideals for which our freedom fighters devoted their lives.”

The Prime Minister said in his post that it was their collective struggle that ensured that the then Congress government had to restore democracy and call for fresh elections, which they badly lost.

Reiterating the commitment to the Constitution and its values, he said, “We also reiterate our commitment to strengthening the principles in our Constitution and working together to realise our vision of a Viksit Bharat.”

“May we scale new heights of progress and fulfil the dreams of the poor and downtrodden,” he added.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is observing the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, which was imposed by the Indira Gandhi-led government in 1975, as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ (Constitution Murder Day).

The party has planned extensive outreach programmes at district and booth levels across the country to mark the day as a “dark chapter” in India’s democratic history.

(IANS)

June 25, 2025
‘All systems looking good’: SpaceX ahead of Axiom Mission 4 to ISS

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

SpaceX has confirmed that all systems are “looking good” for the launch of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), as NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX target a 2:31 AM EDT (12:00 PM IST) liftoff on Wednesday for the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

In a post on X on Tuesday (local time), SpaceX stated that weather conditions are 90% favorable for the launch scheduled for Wednesday evening (local time).

“All systems are looking good for Wednesday’s launch of Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station, and weather is 90 percent favourable for liftoff,” the company said.

The Ax-4 mission will launch from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The mission holds special significance for India’s space programme, as the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will be piloted by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force. The spacecraft will launch atop SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

For Group Captain Shukla, this mission presents a historic opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who became the first Indian in space when he flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on April 3, 1984, as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme.

Now, Group Captain Shukla is set to rewrite history by becoming the second Indian in space and the first to travel to the International Space Station.

The four-member Ax-4 crew, currently in quarantine in Florida, will be led by Commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight. The mission specialists include ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

The Ax-4 mission marks a symbolic “return to human spaceflight” for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each country sponsoring its first government-backed human space mission in over 40 years. While Ax-4 is only the second crewed space mission in the history of these nations, it will be the first time all three will participate in a mission aboard the ISS.

For ISRO and Group Captain Shukla, this mission is a significant milestone, laying the foundation for India’s future in human spaceflight. It also paves the way for India’s first crewed space mission, Gaganyaan, slated for launch in the first quarter of 2027, and the country’s long-term goal of landing an Indian on the Moon by 2040.

(With inputs from ANI)

June 25, 2025
‘All systems looking good’: SpaceX ahead of Axiom Mission 4 to ISS

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

SpaceX has confirmed that all systems are “looking good” for the launch of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), as NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX target a 2:31 AM EDT (12:00 PM IST) liftoff on Wednesday for the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

In a post on X on Tuesday (local time), SpaceX stated that weather conditions are 90% favorable for the launch scheduled for Wednesday evening (local time).

“All systems are looking good for Wednesday’s launch of Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station, and weather is 90 percent favourable for liftoff,” the company said.

The Ax-4 mission will launch from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The mission holds special significance for India’s space programme, as the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will be piloted by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force. The spacecraft will launch atop SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

For Group Captain Shukla, this mission presents a historic opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who became the first Indian in space when he flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on April 3, 1984, as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme.

Now, Group Captain Shukla is set to rewrite history by becoming the second Indian in space and the first to travel to the International Space Station.

The four-member Ax-4 crew, currently in quarantine in Florida, will be led by Commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and now Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight. The mission specialists include ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

The Ax-4 mission marks a symbolic “return to human spaceflight” for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each country sponsoring its first government-backed human space mission in over 40 years. While Ax-4 is only the second crewed space mission in the history of these nations, it will be the first time all three will participate in a mission aboard the ISS.

For ISRO and Group Captain Shukla, this mission is a significant milestone, laying the foundation for India’s future in human spaceflight. It also paves the way for India’s first crewed space mission, Gaganyaan, slated for launch in the first quarter of 2027, and the country’s long-term goal of landing an Indian on the Moon by 2040.

(With inputs from ANI)

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Man charged over fatal hit-and-run crash in Rotorua

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have arrested and charged a man over a fatal crash in Rotorua on 15 June.

Police conducted search warrants in Hamilton and Rotorua today, which led to the arrest of a 31-year-old Hamilton man. He was arrested at a property in Hamilton.

The arrest relates to the crash on Edmund Road, Rotorua on 15 June that killed a 24-year-old Rotorua man.

“We are glad to get this result and hope it provides some relief to the family,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Van Kempen.

“We still have a long way to go, but today’s arrest marks an important milestone in our investigation, and the public has played a significant part in today’s arrest.

“What happened on 15 June was a tragedy and was felt through our community, and I want to thank everyone who has assisted us throughout the investigation.”

The man is due to appear in Hamilton District Court on Thursday 26 June, charged with manslaughter, failing to stop to ascertain injury or death, and driving while disqualified.

ENDS

Notes for media:

The family of the victim ask for privacy at this time.

Issued by the Police Media Centre.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 25, 2025

MIL-OSI New Zealand: Gaza’s Taps Running Dry: Fuel Crisis Deepens Daily Struggle for Families – UNICEF

Source: UNICEF

UNICEF Spokesperson James Elder at press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva

AMMAN/GENEVA, June 2025 – “In a war already defined by its brutality, Gaza now teeters at its deadliest edge. Currently just 40 per cent of drinking water production facilities remain functional in Gaza (87 out of 217). Without fuel, every one of these will stop operating within weeks.

“Since all the electricity to Gaza was cut after the horrific attacks of 7 Oct 2023, fuel became essential to produce, treat and distribute water to more than two million Palestinians.

“If the current more than 100-day blockade on fuel coming into Gaza does not end, children will begin to die of thirst. Diseases are already advancing, and chaos is tightening its grip.

“Whilst alarm bells rightly ring on the nutrition situation in Gaza – just [last week] UNICEF reported a 50 per cent increase in children (6months to 5yrs) admitted for treatment of acute malnutrition from April to May – water cannot be sidelined.

“And so in the most relatable terms: Gaza is facing what would amount to a man-made drought. Water systems are collapsing.

“However, because this is man-made, it can be stopped. None of these problems are logistical or technical. They are political. Denial has become policy. If there is political will, the water crisis will be eased overnight – fuel would mean that water flows from hundreds of groundwater wells and restores supply within a day. But time is running out.

“To help paint the picture: without fuel, desalination plants that already operate on reduced capacity will cease completely, and critical membranes in the machinery will close, doing immense damage. Without fuel, trucking the millions of litres of water to people will stop. At major production points, large numbers of donkeys are starting to replace trucks. This is the last gasp of a collapsing system. A donkey cart can barely carry 500 litres. A truck, 15,000. And even the donkeys are slowing – there’s barely enough food to keep them moving.

“Fuel is also the thread holding Gaza’s devastated healthcare system together. Without it, hospital generators stop, oxygen production stops, and life-support machines fail. Ambulances can’t move. Incubators go dark. Denying fuel doesn’t just cut off supply – it cuts off survival.

“Or sanitation: The sewerage systems are broken. Sewage now flows into makeshift shelters and tents. There are already suspected cases of HepA and HepE, which are highly infectious.

“Or nutrition: Just as the water crisis is manmade, so too is the malnutrition it drives. In Gaza, these two crises feed off each other, creating a deadly cycle. On average, more than 110 children (6months to 5yrs) have been admitted for treatment for malnutrition every day since the beginning of 2025.

“At the start of this month a friend in Gaza said to me: ‘we have learnt to live without so much. Without our homes; without safety; without loved ones…but we cannot live without food’.

“This week he clarified that: ‘we have learnt to live without so much. Without our homes; without safety; without loved ones…we have even learnt we can live without food for a week, or more…but we cannot survive days without water’.

“UNICEF is very clear. This is Gaza’s most critical moment since this war on children began – a woeful bar to sink below. A virtual blockade is in place; humanitarian aid is being sidelined; the daily killing of girls and boys in Gaza does not register; and now a deliberate fuel crisis is severing Palestinians most essential element for survival: water.”

About UNICEF
UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 25, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ9: Preventing employees from suffering heat stroke at work

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ9: Preventing employees from suffering heat stroke at work
Question:

Hong Kong has become increasingly hot during summer in recent years, and workers who have to work in a hot environment for long hours are at risk of heat stroke at any time. In the reply to this Council on the Estimates of Expenditure 2025-2026, the Government has indicated that the number of heat stress-related work injury cases registered by the Labour Department (LD) from 2022 to 2024 has shown a rising trend. There are views that the existing Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work (GN) is still advisory in nature and there is no mandatory requirement for strict enforcement by employers, so the occurrence of heat stroke-related accidents may not be effectively minimised if there is a lack of compliance of enterprises with GN. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) among the cases of “Occupational Injuries in All Workplace – analysed by Type of Accident” in LD’s Occupational Safety and Health Statistics in each of the past three years, of the number of heat stroke-related cases under “Others” and, among them, the number of cases which deaths were caused by heat stroke, together with a breakdown by industry; whether heat stroke will be separated as a standalone type of accident;

(2) while the optimised Heat Stress at Work Warning (warning) is now linked with the “Extremely Hot” special alert of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO), some members of the trade have relayed that HKO’s data relating to heat stress has deviated from the actual temperature at workplaces (i.e. the temperature may not be the same in different districts), coupled with the deviation between the actual temperature of construction site at height and the ground level monitoring data, whether the Government will lower the benchmark of the Hong Kong Heat Index which corresponds to the three warning levels of amber, red and black, and at the same time enhance the Smart Site Safety System by leveraging technologies for real-time monitoring of the temperatures in various districts, so as to give accurate advance warnings and reduce the risk of employees suffering from heat stroke; and

(3) as there are views that the existing GN is not legally binding and the warning mechanism not only lacks stability, but also fails to cover all working environments, whether the Government will further refine GN or consider mandating the implementation of the workplace heat stress risk assessment through legislative approach, so as to ensure that workers can work in a safe environment; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

My reply to the Hon Kwok’s question is as follows:

(1) The Labour Department (LD) has been keeping separate statistics and records on cases of heat stroke or work injury cases related to heat stress. The breakdown of such cases by industry in the past three years is as follows:

Industry^ The case is a fatal case

(2) To prevent employees from suffering heat stroke while working in hot weather, employers should, with reference to LD’s Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work (GN), conduct risk assessments on heat stress for employees at work, and implement corresponding preventive measures based on the assessment results. When the Heat Stress at Work Warning (HSWW) is issued, it indicates that employees working in hot weather generally face a high level of heat stress risk. Employers should, taking account of the principles and recommendations of the GN, assess whether further control measures are needed, including the arrangement of hourly rest periods to reduce the risk of heat stroke.

     The HSWW is a territory-wide alert system established on the basis of Hong Kong Heat Index (HKHI) of the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). The HKHI announced by the HKO is calculated from meteorological data measured at the King’s Park Meteorological Station, which integrates factors affecting heat stress such as temperature, humidity, air movement, and solar thermal radiation. The calculation formula of the HKHI was derived from correlation analyses of past measurement data and the overall hospital admission figures in Hong Kong in the same period. Hence, the level of the HKHI can appropriately reflect the heat stress and health risks posed by weather to the general public in Hong Kong. The HSWW consists of three levels based on different values of the HKHI, namely Amber, Red, and Black, which indicate increasing heat stress risks. When the HSWW is in force, employers and employees implementing corresponding work and rest arrangements with reference to the recommendations in the GN can, in general, effectively reduce the risk of heat stroke posed to employees at work.

     However, if employers and employees, having regard to the specific circumstances of their workplaces (such as geographical location and work environment), believe that the HSWW cannot timely or adequately reflect the heat stress risk faced by employees at the concerned workplaces, employers can conduct their own assessments, such as seeking help from occupational health professionals to measure the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Index at the work site to assess the heat stress faced by employees and take corresponding preventive measures based on the results to reduce their risk of sustaining heat stroke at work. In addition, depending on the resources and professional support available at individual sites, employers can, where feasible, connect relevant data to the established Smart Site Safety System for monitoring and risk management.

(3) In accordance with the general duty clauses of section 6 of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, every employer must, so far as reasonably practicable, ensure the safety and health at work of all the employer’s employees, including the provision or maintenance of a working environment and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health of the employees. Therefore, employers are required to conduct heat stress risk assessments for employees working in hot environment, and take necessary risk control measures based on the assessment results to safeguard employees against heat stroke at work.

     To assist employers in fulfilling the above general duty provisions, the LD issued the GN and introduced the HSWW, enabling employers and employees to refer to the recommendations in the GN and develop appropriate, risk-based preventive measures according to the heat stress level, thereby reducing the risk of heat stroke at work. To enhance the stability of the HSWW system, the LD adjusted the cancellation mechanism of the warning system last year, effectively reducing the occurrence of re-issuing warning within a short time after cancellation, and avoiding the need for employers to adjust preventive measures repeatedly.

     We believe that the GN and the HSWW can raise the awareness and capacity of employers and employees in preventing heat stroke at work, and we will continue our efforts in organising various publicity and promotional activities as well as providing education and training to remind and assist them to take appropriate heat stroke preventive measures in accordance with the GN.

     Moreover, the LD will continue to conduct inspection and law enforcement work. In particular, inspection of workplaces with a higher risk of heat stroke will be stepped up during summer time to ensure that employers have taken appropriate measures to safeguard employees against heat stroke at work. If irregularities are found during inspection, suitable law enforcement actions will be taken based on the seriousness of the circumstances and the evidence available.
Issued at HKT 12:17

NNNN

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 25, 2025

MIL-OSI Australia: Graduation day for ‘lucky seven’

Source: New South Wales – News

The number seven is widely considered to be lucky across many cultures, and today seven new Police Security Officers (PSO) graduated from the South Australia Police Academy’s Qualification Program 7!

While hard work, determination and skill, rather than luck, saw today’s graduates successfully complete weeks of training, the new PSOs feel lucky to play a vital role in safeguarding the community.

Six men and one woman bring a wealth of valuable employment experience to the role, including from retail, sales, truck driving, and hospitality.

Before joining SAPOL, Scarlett worked in various roles including in retail, working as a barista while studying a Bachelor of Science.

“I was drawn to the variety of PSO roles, and the idea of every day being different,” she said.

When reflecting on the academy experience, the new PSO valued her course mates.

“We would encourage each other whenever any of us struggled with anything,” Scarlett said.

“We would catchup out of work to build up our rapport and become closer as a team.

“The mentors, as well as your course mates are always there to support you if you are ever concerned about anything.”

Fellow graduate Tynan studied and completed a Bachelor of Criminology at Flinders University before joining SAPOL.

“I studied this due to my interest in crime rehabilitation of offenders,” he said.

“This study exposed me to the world of law enforcement and was a major contributor as to why I wanted to join SAPOL.”

Tynan has a passion for football, which has developed his teamwork skills – of great value in this new role.

He was attracted to SAPOL knowing that every day has the potential to be new and different, and he hopes to one day become a police officer.

“SAPOL offers many pathways and extensive opportunities to branch off into different aspects of the organisation,” he added.

“As a PSO, the variety of working in the cells, working at static sites, and conducting patrols is an attractive aspect of the role.”

Today’s PSO graduates will be posted to Police Security Services Branch (PSSB), in the District Support Section.

SAPOL is currently recruiting for Police Security Officers and is keen to hear from people who are committed to the state’s safety and security.

If you are looking for job security, career progression pathways and a chance to make a real difference in local communities visit Achievemore – Join Us (police.sa.gov.au)

Tynan and Scarlett are among seven new Police Security Officers to graduate today from the South Australia Police Academy.

[embedded content]

MIL OSI News –

June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Invest New Zealand legislation passes
Source: New Zealand Government

Parliament has today passed legislation to formally establish Invest New Zealand, clearing the way for the new investment attraction agency to begin operations on 1 July 2025.

“This marks a major step in the Government’s plan to grow the economy by attracting more international capital, businesses and talent into New Zealand,” Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says.

“Invest New Zealand will have a clear commercial focus—working directly with global investors to unlock opportunities that create jobs, boost innovation, and lift our long-term productivity.”

Budget 2025 committed $85 million over four years to support the agency’s establishment as an autonomous Crown entity.

Invest New Zealand will:
- Drive investment into advanced and high-growth industries;
- Connect offshore investors with local businesses and research opportunities;
- Support global companies to grow their R&D footprint in New Zealand;
- Help build the skills base needed to support a more innovative economy.
A private sector advisory group, chaired by Rob Morrison, has played a key role in designing the agency’s framework and will continue to provide strategic advice as the agency scales up.

“Invest New Zealand will act as a bridge between global capital and New Zealand’s economic potential,” Mr McClay says.

“It’s about making it easier to do business here—cutting red tape, speeding up decision-making, and targeting investment that delivers long-term benefits for the country.”

The agency will be up and running 1 July.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –
June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Child Fund – Children bear the brunt as risk of war increases
Source: ChildFund New Zealand

Violence against children in areas with armed conflict has reached unprecedented levels, with children bearing the brunt of violent clashes, indiscriminate attacks, disregard for ceasefires and peace agreements, and deepening humanitarian crisis, according to a new report from the United Nations.

“As wars across the world escalate, from Ukraine and Yemen, to Gaza, Israel and Iran, it is always children who suffer the most and are uniquely vulnerable to abuse,” says Josie Pagani, CEO of ChildFund.

According to the United Nation’s annual report into Children and Armed Conflict, last year:

22,495 children were illegally recruited into armed groups, killed, maimed, raped or victims of other forms of sexual violence, and abduction in conflict zones

4,676 children were killed, and 7,291 maimed, affecting a staggering 11,967 children

41,370 were victims of grave violations, including attacks on schools and hospitals and denial of humanitarian access

Grave violations against children increased by 545% in Lebanon, 525% in Mozambique and 490% in Haiti

3,018 children were jailed for association with parties to conflict.

“In too many examples, perpetrators targeted attacks on children, used explosive weapons in populated areas, and systematically exploited children in hostilities for military and sexual purposes.”

“There is still a blatant disregard for international law at the moment, where ‘might is right’, and humanitarian access in war is denied. Children are the silent victims when the law is ignored,” says Josie Pagani.

Charities like ChildFund are on the ground, doing what they can to protect children in war zones.

“Through our partners in Gaza, we are distributing water, hygiene kits, and doing everything possible to keep on top of the rapid increase of illnesses spreading through communities and in the camps for displaced people.”

In Gaza, 92% of homes, 88% of schools, 68% of cropland, and 68% of road networks have been destroyed, while only 50% of hospitals are functioning – most of them only partially.

In Ukraine, ChildFund partners have reached nearly 3000 people, including 1,797 children and teenagers with food and water, and provided safe spaces for children to keep learning during the war, and to get the psychosocial support they need.

“We must keep calling out those on all sides of a conflict who disregard international law, or recruit children as combatants in wars, target citizens illegally, or ride roughshod over the Convention of the Rights of the Child. These legal principles are there precisely to protect the most vulnerable people in the most violent situations.”
MIL OSI New Zealand News –
June 25, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZ becomes first country to back out of Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance – Greenpeace

Source: Greenpeace

Greenpeace says that the New Zealand Government has lost its last shred of climate credibility in light of its withdrawal from the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance – a global first.

Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson says, “This is a Government that is refusing to invest in a safe and livable future. Luxon has made an unconscionable decision with no thought for the implications on our kids’ and grandkids’ futures.”

“From choosing to reverse the oil and gas ban, to offering up $200 million in taxpayer-funded subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, it’s clear that Luxon can’t be trusted to make decisions on climate change.

“Abandoning the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance is like withdrawing your investments in smartphones to back fax machines instead. These are not serious people.”

Larsson says that there is a growing risk that the Government’s reversal of climate change policies will result in backlash from New Zealand’s trading partners, citing advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade that said that repealing the ban on offshore oil and gas was likely to breach New Zealand’s free trade deals with the UK and European Union.

Additionally, Member of the European Parliament Saskia Bricmont has asked questions of the European Trade Commissioner about the impacts of New Zealand’s regressive climate policies on the EU-NZ Free Trade Agreement – specifically, the move to revise New Zealand’s methane emissions target in line with the controversial concept of ‘no additional warming’.

“The Luxon Government is bending over backwards for two of the most polluting industries in the world – the intensive livestock industry, and the fossil fuel industry,” says Larsson.

“They are turning New Zealand into a laughing stock on the global stage as they continue to let polluters write policies that harm regular people.

“Already, international climate scientists have called out the Prime Minister for ignoring scientific evidence by exploring dodgy accounting tricks for measuring methane emissions from livestock. It is the first time in Luxon’s political or business career that he has made the front page of the Financial Times – and it was humiliating. He should expect more international criticism to come.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 25, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ18: Licence for billiard establishment

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ18: Licence for billiard establishment
Question:

Under the Places of Amusement Regulation (Chapter 132BA), Places of Amusement Licence must be obtained for the operation of billiard establishment with four tables or more. However, it is learnt that some billiard establishments without the required licence are operating inside industrial buildings, evading the licensing requirement by adopting such operating practices as providing three or fewer tables in subdivided or sub-‍let units. There are views that such practices may contravene the deeds of mutual covenant of the buildings and create an unfair advantage over other billiard establishments that are licensed. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has compiled the following information on billiard establishments that currently provide three or fewer tables but have not obtained the licence: (i) the number of billiard establishments, (ii) ‍the number of units involved, (iii) the duration of operation, and (iv) whether the deeds of mutual covenant of the buildings occupied by such establishments have been contravened, together with a breakdown by the 18 districts across the territory; if not, whether it has plans to start compiling and maintaining such information from now on;

(2) of the following information on complaints received by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) regarding illegal operation of billiard establishments each year over the past five years: (i) the number of complaints received, (ii) the number of complaints found to be substantiated, (iii) the number of prosecutions initiated, (iv) the number of successful prosecutions, (v) the number of persons prosecuted, (vi) the offences involved, and (vii) the number of billiard establishments involved;

(3) whether it has plans to step up efforts in combatting billiard establishments operating illegally, and those adopting the aforesaid practices to evade the licensing requirement, such as stepping up law enforcement actions, amending relevant laws, and imposing harsher penalties; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(4) as some members of the industry have relayed that currently applications for the licence for billiard establishments need to be vetted and approved by different government departments such as the LCSD, the Fire Services Department, and the Buildings Department, and it has taken over nine months for some cases to be processed (meaning that the applicants have to pay nine months’ rent for premises not yet placed in service but intended for operating the billiard establishment, amounting to several million dollars), whether the Government has plans to expedite the vetting and approval process for the licence; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

My reply to the Hon Yung Hoi-yan’s questions are set out below:

(1) The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is responsible for the licensing of billiard establishments with four or more billiard tables pursuant to the Places of Amusement Regulation (Cap. 132BA) under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (the Ordinance). It maintains a register of licensed billiard establishments to ensure that the licensees comply with, among others, the requirements in respect of fire safety, building safety and health. It does not keep any information on venues with three or fewer billiard tables.

(2) Over the past five years (from January 2021 to June 2025), the number of complaints and prosecutions related to suspected unlicensed operation of billiard establishments handled by the LCSD is tabulated below:

The LCSD will take immediate follow-up actions upon receiving complaints about suspected unlicensed billiard establishments (including evasion of the need to obtain licences by any means) or case referrals from other departments. The LCSD may, depending on actual circumstances, launch joint operations with other law enforcement departments. If unlicensed operation is confirmed after investigation, the LCSD will prosecute the operator in accordance with the law. Any person operating a regulated billiard establishment without a licence issued under the Ordinance, upon conviction, may be sentenced to imprisonment for up to six months and a maximum fine of $25,000. In addition, if other irregularities (such as violation of lease conditions) are found at the premises, the LCSD will refer such cases to relevant departments for follow-up. The LCSD will continue to monitor the operation of billiard establishments and review the enforcement action and penalties under the existing legislation from time to time. The LCSD will step up efforts to combat the operation of unlicensed billiard establishments as and when necessary.

(4) The dedicated page on Places of Amusement Licences on the LCSD’s website sets out the general licensing requirements, application guidelines and frequently asked questions to assist applicants interested in operating billiard establishments in preparing the necessary documents and layout plans for their licence applications.

The time required to vet each application depends on whether the individual applicant meets the licensing conditions, as well as the time needed by relevant departments (including the Fire Services Department and the Buildings Department) to examine the information submitted by the applicant and approve the relevant works for the premises concerned. If the applicant responds to and follows up on the advice of relevant departments in a timely manner, the approval process can generally be completed in about four to seven months upon receipt of the application and all required information.

The LCSD is committed to simplifying the application procedures for Places of Amusement Licences all along, and will continue to review and refine relevant procedures, including simplifying the application forms and providing online submission channel. Furthermore, the LCSD will continue to work closely with various departments concerned to process applications as quickly as practicable upon receipt of the required information from applicants with a view to expediting the vetting process.
Issued at HKT 12:10

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 25, 2025

Category: Asia Pacific

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