Category: Asia Pacific

MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur Statement at the Full Committee Markup of the 2026 Energy and Water Development Funding Bill

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

Washington, DC — Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Ranking Member of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the full committee’s markup of its fiscal year 2026 bill:

Thank you very much, Chairman Cole. Ranking Member DeLauro, my dear friend, Chair Fleischmann and all the members as we gather today to mark up this Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development Bill. I have to restate, Chairman Fleischmann, I have truly appreciated working with you. You are always open to suggestions and, to all of our colleagues on this subcommittee that is a very, bipartisan subcommittee to develop and pass these bills, and our committee has long had this practice. We affect every single Congressional District in this country.

I’m truly saddened that this vital subcommittee is, being steered yet again to return to a partisan process not caused by our subcommittee, but as we move forward with this Fiscal Year 2026 House bill.

I would like to begin by thanking our diligent staff for all their hard work on this bill from the minority staff Scott McKee, Anisha Singh, and Adam Wilson, and on our personal staff, Kaitlin Ulin, TJ Lowdermilk, and Margaret McInnis. Truly thank you to you all.

Engineered energy and water systems undergird America’s way of life. They are not optional, but essential to sustaining life. Of late, we have been piercingly reminded about our subcommittee’s purpose, especially as related to water management by the extreme flash flooding and tragic loss of over 132 lives, and with over 101 missing, in the Guadalupe River catchment area in Texas.

The deadly West Virginia flash flooding this past month significantly damaged over 100 homes. Unfortunately, taking the lives of at least nine people, including a three year old, in Valley Grove, West Virginia. And we’ve seen flooding events in central North Carolina and New Mexico. All our hearts go out to the families of the victims and their communities. These tragedies inform us of the power of water and wild energy in our atmosphere. Not because of cloud seeding, but because of nature’s awesome power generated inside the thin seven layer atmosphere surrounding our spinning and rotating earth. Let me be clear. No matter how much members on the other side of the aisle want to pretend that the climate isn’t changing, for the record, the last ten years are the ten hottest in recorded history.

So many have been held up on their plane flights back here. It’s an unusual change in the weather across this country, and members are personally experiencing these delays, as are the American people. These recent floods are made worse by the heating atmosphere. We had four 1,000 year floods last week alone. That is a record.

So far in July, our country has seen over 1,200 flooding events, more than double the normal for an average July, and we’re just halfway through the month. Constitutionally, it is our sworn duty to prepare and protect the people in our communities, and it is hard to accept that no warning sirens had been installed along the Guadalupe River, despite prior tragedies along that very treacherous corridor. Our nation needs to install warning systems and build resilient infrastructure, and we are behind.

For example, in a district like mine, we had to bring funding for tornado sirens many years ago. I was shocked that they didn’t exist. And in Ohio, we do zone to prevent flooding from threatening human life. But many places in our country do not, and we cannot keep bailing out places that are irresponsible in their behavior. My home in the City of Toledo has gone into Billions of dollars of debt to build new sewers, along with gigantic underground catchment basins, some as large as two football fields in size, in order to handle increasing water loads.

We are making investments all over our district to protect Lake Erie shoreline and its tributaries. But in places where infrastructure investments aren’t cost effective, how does our nation make sure that families will be protected with adequate local planning and disaster warning systems? America needs more rigor in land and water planning systems, and my friends, quite frankly, we as a nation don’t get a grade A on that.

It is our awesome responsibility as public servants to address the structural shortcomings at the federal, state, and local level that contributed to the recent loss of life. Sadly, this Republican energy and water bill does not meet our nation’s imperative for the future. It’s over $700 Million below last year. We must invest faster in modern infrastructure, and become energy independent in perpetuity. That is our responsibility. In a nation of 350 million people headed to 500 million people, we must make energy cost less and invest in grid resilience, which is sadly behind what this country needs.

I find it interesting that Russell Vought, the chief architect of the budget cuts that we are being asked to endure in this bill, claims that he’s so savvy. But how is it possible? He’s supposed to be known as a budget cutter, right? But how is it possible that he has added $3.4 Trillion, despite our cuts to the national debt over the next ten years? Over 20 years, he’s adding $9.5 Trillion, and $18.7 Trillion by 30 years out. So that’s a total of $32 Trillion, if temporary measures are extended permanently. Think about that one. So if they’re doing such a good job over there at the Executive Branch and OMB, how come the national debt is rising when we’re cutting every single bill that we are discussing today, and those that will follow?

This bill fails to address the cost of living crisis. The price of electricity has risen 5.8% over the last year. Every family in this country knows that, and even higher energy bills lie ahead for families and businesses. China is investing record levels in energy, my friends. But this bill retreats from US global leadership in the future in the form of a diversified and clean energy economy. This energy and water bill cuts $1.6 Billion, or 47%, from the Department of Energy’s energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. The adage analysis prevention is worth a pound of cure applies to our nation’s imperative to deliver clean, affordable, and secure energy to the American people and to ensure our nation leads, not lags, in the global race toward energy independence in perpetuity, including an abundant clean energy future.

Our mom and dad taught us how to be thrifty and not wasteful. Dad would say, “it’s not how much you make, it’s how much you save,” and that applies to energy and fresh water. Conservation are good goals for the future of our children and grandchildren, and we’ve made some strides toward those horizons. The United States on the oil front is producing more than ever before, record high levels of production, but we are still tethered to a volatile global energy market dominated by cartels and petroleum dictators like OPEC. We must advance an all of the above energy strategy to be successful long term. Europe learned the hard way about being too reliant on one source of energy, Russian gas. In their case when Russia invaded Ukraine. Let us heed that chilling warning.

China aims to be the OPEC for the next century, and gain dominance in clean energy, and they are well on their way. Their investments dwarf the rest of the world’s. A Chinese company has developed an EV battery. Are you ready for this? That can travel 1,800 miles in a single charge and recharge in just five minutes. Think about that. What sense does it make for this Energy and Water Bill to slash the Department of Energy’s vital research and development programs?

The Republican plan cripples America’s energy future by awarding giant tax breaks to Millionaires and Billionaires in the Big Billionaire Bonanza Bill that’s creating the big, huge additions to the debt. America must focus on building an economy that works for everyone, especially our working families and retirees, not just the wealthy few. The bill this bill eliminates funding for the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, and worse, it revokes $5.1 Billion of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law resources from the Department of Energy that will cede the US global lead in hydrogen, direct air capture, battery recycling, and energy savings in every public and private structure. Already, US businesses have canceled. This is shocking number. More than $15 Billion in investments in new factories and electricity production projects this year, as a result of the Republican Bonanza for Billionaires Bill. Those canceled projects were expected to create nearly 12,000 new jobs, all now gone.

I can remember when we brought back the heavy Ford heavy truck line from Mexico to the region that I represent, and I stood next to the CEO of the company at that time, and I said, what can I do to keep these jobs anchored here in Northern Ohio? And he looked at me and he didn’t waste a moment. He said, cut my energy bills by a third. Well, think about that one.

Thus I strongly oppose the Republican cuts to vital energy production and conservation and our future through the US Department of Energy. Shortchanging these advances pushes our nation backwards and raises already high energy prices for consumers. Why drive America backwards by slow walking energy innovation and failing to modernize our nation’s electric grids, which are old.

In other areas, this bill dangerously short changes our national security, and this is really critical. The bill slashes $412 Million from the Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation account. This effectively guts our efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, detect covert nuclear threats, and uphold arms control agreements that keep us safe. All a big gift for Iran, Russia, China, Belarus, and North Korea. Think about that Spiderweb of Tyranny.

Additionally, this bill turns its back on communities still living with the toxic legacy of America’s atomic past. Zeroing out the Army Corps program to clean up radioactive waste at early nuclear sites. It slashes $779 Million from the Department of Energy’s nuclear cleanup efforts. Delaying the cleanup of these communities have been promised for decades. I’ll note for the committee that one of these sites is in the village of Luckey, Ohio, not so far from my district, and believe me, you don’t want to breathe in or ingest atomic waste anywhere in the world. Finally, this bill includes numerous controversial poison pill riders that sadly show some extremists among us are not interested in real bills that can gain bipartisan support and become law.

In closing, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill. America can, and must meet the new age frontiers of energy and water. We owe it to the future. Nature is signaling, times are changing. And it’s good to remind ourselves, 200 years after Daniel Webster stated this, that is up on the wall in the House of Representatives chamber. “Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its powers, build up its institutions, promote all its great interests, and see whether also we in our time and generation may not perform something worthy to be remembered.” That is our mandate today.

Thank you, and I yield back.

# # #

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Maritime News – High-seas rescue results in three people being safely plucked from a life raft after abandoning their vessel hundreds of nautical miles north of New Zealand

Source: Maritime NZ

Three people are now safely on-board a merchant ship, after the launch they suffered mechanical issues and had to be abandoned.

At about 2.30 PM, 17 July Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre was notified that the launch had encountered trouble south of the Kermadec Islands, it was enroute to Tonga from New Zealand.

The incident occurred about 350 nautical miles north-east of New Zealand.

Shortly after a MAYDAY was declared and the crew made the decision to get into a life raft, abandoning their vessel.

Search and Rescue Officer at RCCNZ Taylor Monaghan, says this was a high stakes search and rescue operation.

“After getting their emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) coordinates following its activation, it was clear they were a long way from help.

“A MAYDAY call was then broadcast by the Maritime Operations Centre to vessels within a 200NM area,” Taylor Monaghan says.

It was picked up by a merchant oil tanker, the only vessel in the area, which accepted the request to help and re-routed to the location of the distress signal. While RCCNZ got in touch with the New Zealand Defence Force to request air assistance.

“The NZDF P8 played a critical role in this rescue.

“It was able to get quickly to the life raft and assist with giving directions and support to the master of the merchant vessel.

“This was done at night, in trying conditions as well,” Taylor Monaghan says.

When abandoning their launch for the life raft, the crew ensured they took the necessary survival equipment.

“They took life jackets, a grab bag and other essential supplies. They gave themselves the best chance of survival, Taylor Monaghan says.

Six hours after the initial request for assistance, the NZDF P8 arrived on scene, its crew monitored the life raft and coordinated with the merchant oil tanker that was steaming to render assistance.

“In the meantime, the crew of the merchant vessel developed a rescue plan.

“Getting on-board a large vessel on the open ocean from a life raft is not an easy task.

“The tanker needed to use multiple ladders to have enough length to reach the life raft, as well carefully manoeuvring alongside the much smaller life raft” Taylor Monaghan says.

At about 11 PM New Zealand time, RCCNZ was notified the crew had successfully been picked up by the merchant ship.

RCCNZ General Manager, Justin Allan was monitored the progress of the search, and says it was a big relief when the rescue was confirmed.

“I am immensely proud of the work of the search and rescue officers involved, as well as the crews of the NZDF P8 and the merchant oil tanker. This was a complex rescue, and very good result to get the three safely off the life raft and onto the merchant vessel,” he says.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Separated men are nearly 5 times more likely to take their lives than married men

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Wilson, Research Fellow and PhD Candidate in Men’s Mental Health, The University of Melbourne

Breakups hurt. Emotional and psychological distress are common when intimate relationships break down. For some people, this distress can be so overwhelming that it leads to suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

This problem seems especially the case for men. Intimate partner problems including breakups, separation and divorce feature in the paths to suicide among one in three Australian men aged 25 to 44 who end their lives.

Men account for three in every four suicides in many nations worldwide, including Australia. So improving our understanding of links between relationship breakdown and men’s suicide risk has life-saving potential.

Our research, published today, is the first large-scale review of the evidence to focus on understanding men’s risk of suicide after a breakup. We found separated men were nearly five times more likely to die by suicide compared to married men.

What did we find?

We brought together findings from 75 studies across 30 countries worldwide, involving more than 106 million men.

We focused on understanding why relationship breakdown can lead to suicide in men, and which men are most at risk. We might not be able to prevent breakups from happening, but we can promote healthy adjustment to the stress of relationship breakdown to try and prevent suicide.

Overall, we found divorced men were 2.8 times more likely to take their lives than married men.

For separated men, the risk was much higher. We found that separated men were 4.8 times more likely to die by suicide than married men.

Most strikingly, we found separated men under 35 years of age had nearly nine times greater odds of suicide than married men of the same age.

The short-term period after relationship breakdown therefore appears particularly risky for men’s mental health.

What are these men feeling?

Some men’s difficulties regulating the intense emotional stress of relationship breakdown can play a role in their suicide risk. For some men, the emotional pain tied to separation – deep sadness, shame, guilt, anxiety and loss – can be so intense it feels never-ending.

Many men are raised in a culture of masculinity that often encourages them to suppress or withdraw from their emotions in times of intense stress.

Some men also experience difficulties understanding or interpreting their emotions, which can create challenges in knowing how to respond to them.

Overall, our research found relationship breakdown may lead to suicide for some men because of the complex interaction between the individual (emotional distress) and interpersonal (changes in their social network and availability of support) impacts of a breakup.

Many of these impacts don’t seem to feature in the paths to suicide after a breakup for women in the same way.

Breakups also impact social networks

As intimate relationships become more serious, we tend to spend less time investing in our friendships, especially if juggling the demands of a career and family.

Many men, especially in heterosexual relationships, rely on their intimate partner as a primary source of social and emotional support – often at the expense of connections outside their relationship.

This can create a risky situation if relationships break down, as it seems many men are left with little support to turn to. This rang true in our research, as men’s social disconnection and loneliness seemed to increase their suicide risk following relationship breakdown.

We also know people can struggle to know how to support men after a breakup. Research has found some men who ask for support are told to just “get back on the horse”. Such a response invalidates men’s pain and reinforces masculine stereotypes that relationship breakdown doesn’t affect them.

So, what can we do?

There is no simple answer to preventing suicide following relationship breakdown, but a range of opportunities exist.

We can intervene early, by educating young people with the skills to end relationships healthily, handle rejection and regulate the difficult emotions of a breakup.

We can embed support groups and other opportunities for connection and peer support in relationship services that are regularly in contact with those navigating separation, to help combat loneliness.

We can ensure mental health practitioners are equipped with the skills necessary to engage and respond effectively to men who seek help following a breakup, to help keep them safe until they can get back on their feet.

Most importantly, if men come to any of us seeking support after a breakup, we can remember that time is often a great healer. The best we can do is sit with men in their pain, rather than try and get them to stop feeling it. This connection could be life-saving.

Support and information is available at Relationships Australia and MensLine Australia. If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Michael Wilson works for The University of Melbourne and consults to Movember. He receives funding from the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship, provided by the Australian Commonwealth Government and the University of Melbourne.

Jacqui Macdonald receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Medical Research Future Fund and the Australian Research Council. She convenes the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium and she is on the Movember Global Men’s Health Advisory Committee.

Zac Seidler has been awarded an NHMRC Investigator Grant. He is also the Global Director of Research with the Movember Institute of Men’s Health. He advises government on men’s suicide, masculinities, violence prevention and social media policy.

– ref. Separated men are nearly 5 times more likely to take their lives than married men – https://theconversation.com/separated-men-are-nearly-5-times-more-likely-to-take-their-lives-than-married-men-258196

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

July 18, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: WA had the highest rates of Indigenous child removal in the country. At last, the state is finally facing up to it

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenna Woods, Dean, School of Indigenous Knowledges, Murdoch University

Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

First Nations people please be advised this article speaks of racially discriminating moments in history, including the distress and death of First Nations people.

In 1997, Australia was confronted with the landmark Bringing Them Home report. It chronicled the country’s long, dark history of the forced removal of First Nations children.

The report also made recommendations on what to do next. Compensation was key among them. Every state and territory heeded that call in the years that followed, except Western Australia.

In the decades since, many have called for the recognition of, and compensation for, First Nations people in WA forcibly removed from their families, culture and Country. In May, Premier Roger Cook answered that call, announcing a redress scheme for living survivors of the Stolen Generations.

But the Stolen Generations aren’t just historical; they’re ongoing. Many still feel the reverberations of decades of trauma. WA will finally seek to redress some of it.

Generations forced apart

WA had the highest rates of forcible removal of Aboriginal children in this country. Today, more than 50% of Aboriginal people in WA are either Stolen Generations survivors or their direct descendants.

Historian Margaret Jacobs wrote that through the 1905 Aborigines Protection Act, “Indigeneity itself became inextricably associated with neglect”.

Aboriginal families, due solely to their Aboriginality, were regarded as inferior and their children were removed en masse to missions where traditional cultural practices were prohibited. Stolen Generations child removals continued until the 1970s.

In the missions where Aboriginal children were placed after removal, psychological, physical and sexual abuse was widespread. The children, often removed as infants, were institutionalised and raised by religious missionaries.

Speaking in traditional languages or engaging in cultural practices were prohibited, with the goal being to strip them of their Aboriginality so they could be fully assimilated into Western society. To minimise barriers to this, parents and families were prohibited from communicating or visiting their children.

The human consequences of these inhumane practices have been monumental.

The financial impact

Attachment theory attests to the importance of early childhood experiences of love, care and safety on an individual’s future life outcomes. The theory suggests infants develop one of four main attachment styles in response to the care they receive from their parents or other carers during infancy.

The significance of this in the context of generations of children being forcibly removed from their caregivers cannot be understated.

In addition, the majority of Stolen Generations children survived various forms of abuse within these institutions and live with the resulting trauma of that.

Under the 1905 act, any property or personal items owned by Aboriginal people could be confiscated at any time and money owing to Aboriginal peoples, including wages, was to be paid to the Chief Protector of Aborigines.

This prevented Aboriginal families from securing financial stability and establishing intergenerational wealth, despite their significant labour contributions to WA’s economic development.

A good indicator of intergenerational wealth consolidation can be found in rates of home ownership.

Currently, 45.8% of Aboriginal people in the greater Perth area own their home, compared with 70.4% of their non-Aboriginal counterparts.

Of those, 10.8% of Aboriginal households own their home outright, compared with 28.5% for non-Aboriginal owners.

This makes redress not just a symbolic move, but a deeply practical one too.

Compounding disadvantage

Overall, these circumstances have created a “gap within the Gap”.

This refers to the first gap, being that Aboriginal people have poorer life outcomes than their non-Aboriginal counterparts.

The gap within that gap is that Stolen Generations survivors and their descendants have poorer life outcomes than the general Aboriginal population.

Stolen Generations peoples and their descendants are more likely to have mental health disorders, to experience family violence, homelessness or criminal justice involvement, and to have an addiction, including substances and gambling, while also being less likely to have a support network.

This state scheme will make individual payments to living survivors of the Stolen Generations who were forcibly removed before July 1 1972.

It will deliver a one-off payment of $85,000 to survivors in recognition of the trauma and pain they suffered through their removal.

Registrations for Stolen Generations members who are eligible for this scheme will open in the latter half of 2025 and payments will commence by the end of the year.

It won’t fix everything, but it’s a welcome sign of progress.

13YARN is a free and confidential 24/7 national crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. Call 13 92 76.

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

– ref. WA had the highest rates of Indigenous child removal in the country. At last, the state is finally facing up to it – https://theconversation.com/wa-had-the-highest-rates-of-indigenous-child-removal-in-the-country-at-last-the-state-is-finally-facing-up-to-it-258695

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Exercise Keris Strike 25 Launches, Featuring United States, Malaysian, and Australian Forces

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

PERAK, Malaysia – The Malaysian Army officially launched Exercise Keris Strike 25 (KrS25) today, a trilateral military training event involving the U.S. Army and Australian Defence Force (ADF). Held July 17–31 in Perak, this year marks the 30th iteration of the exercise, which began as a bilateral engagement between Malaysia and the United States in 1994. For only the second time, the ADF joins as a full participant, elevating the exercise to a trilateral level.

MIL Security OSI –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Exercise Keris Strike 25 Launches, Featuring United States, Malaysian, and Australian Forces

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

PERAK, Malaysia – The Malaysian Army officially launched Exercise Keris Strike 25 (KrS25) today, a trilateral military training event involving the U.S. Army and Australian Defence Force (ADF). Held July 17–31 in Perak, this year marks the 30th iteration of the exercise, which began as a bilateral engagement between Malaysia and the United States in 1994. For only the second time, the ADF joins as a full participant, elevating the exercise to a trilateral level.

MIL Security OSI –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Regulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Promote American Security with Respect to Sterile Medical Equipment
Source: US Whitehouse
class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

1. The use of ethylene oxide is critical for the sterilization of medical equipment, which protects patients against infection and the transmission of disease. The continued utilization of ethylene oxide by commercial sterilization facilities is essential to ensuring that our Nation provides its sick and injured with the best outcomes possible — an objective that is at the forefront of the Federal Government’s responsibility to the American people.
2. On April 5, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency published a final rule, pursuant to section 112 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412, titled National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards for Sterilization Facilities Residual Risk and Technology Review, 89 FR 24090 (EtO Rule). The EtO Rule imposes new emissions-control requirements on commercial sterilization facilities.
3. The EtO Rule places severe burdens on commercial sterilization facilities. About 50 percent of all sterile medical devices in the United States are sterilized with ethylene oxide, and sterilization with ethylene oxide may be the only method of sterilizing many medical devices without damaging them. By requiring compliance with standards premised on the application of emissions-control technologies that do not exist in a commercially viable form, the EtO Rule risks making critical sterile medical devices unavailable to care for patients in our civilian and military medical systems. The current compliance timeline as set forth at 89 FR 24101-24103 of the EtO Rule will likely force existing sterilization facilities to close down, seriously disrupting the supply of medical equipment. Our Nation would be unable to adequately supply the sterilized medical equipment that medical personnel need to safely treat their patients in hospitals, operating rooms, and other medical facilities. In short, the current compliance timeline would undermine our national security.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412(i)(4), do hereby proclaim that certain stationary sources subject to the EtO Rule, as identified in Annex I of this proclamation, are exempt from compliance with the EtO Rule for a period of 2 years beyond the EtO Rule’s relevant compliance dates (Exemption). This Exemption applies to all compliance deadlines established under the EtO Rule applicable to the stationary sources listed in Annex I, with each such deadline extended by 2 years from the date originally required for such deadline. The effect of this Exemption is that, during each such 2-year period, these stationary sources will remain subject to the emissions and compliance obligations in effect prior to the issuance of the EtO Rule. In support of this Exemption, I hereby make the following determinations:

The technology to implement the EtO Rule is not available. Such technology does not exist in a commercially viable form sufficient to allow implementation of and compliance with the EtO Rule by the compliance dates set forth in the EtO Rule.

It is in the national security interests of the United States to issue this Exemption for the reasons stated in paragraphs 1 and 3 of this proclamation.
MIL OSI USA News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Club World Cup ends with success, controversy and questions

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

FIFA’s bold reimagining of the Club World Cup (CWC) culminated July 13, ushering in what the governing body hailed as “a golden era of club football.”

The expanded 32-team format, along with sweeping technological and presentation changes, aimed to elevate the tournament’s global appeal, fairness and influence. While the 2025 edition delivered significant successes, it also revealed persistent challenges that demand attention.

GLOBAL PARTICIPATION EXPANDS

The most radical change was the expansion from seven to 32 teams. Players from 81 countries and regions took the pitch, many experiencing FIFA’s top-tier competition for the first time. This dismantled the previous barrier that limited participation mostly to continental champions, advancing FIFA’s mission to “truly globalize football.”

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (R) of Paris Saint-Germain vies with Malo Gusto of Chelsea FC during the final match between Chelsea FC (England) and Paris Saint-Germain (France) at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 at the MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, the United States, July 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

Smaller clubs responded with enthusiasm. Facing giants like Real Madrid and Manchester City enriched player resumes and sparked pride back home-fulfilling FIFA’s core goal of showcasing diverse football cultures.

“It shows how big football is worldwide and how good some of these players are,” said Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane. “I’m loving this tournament so far, and hopefully we can be here for a while.”

Zhou Tong, the sole Chinese player representing New Zealand’s semi-professional Auckland City, captured the spirit: “Football connects people, changes lives, opens eyes to the world. That’s magic-like universal language.”

Unlike elite clubs, most Auckland City players hold full-time jobs and play part time. Zhou works as a community coach focused on grassroots development. Their participation powerfully embodied FIFA’s “Football Unites the World” campaign.

CALENDAR AND COMPETITIVE CHALLENGES

Criticism focused on increased player workload and injury risks. The CWC schedule fully overlapped with Europe’s summer league breaks. With next summer’s FIFA World Cup in North America, European players face back-to-back grueling seasons.

UEFA and others have long criticized FIFA’s crowded calendar. Opponents argue players are overworked while domestic leagues face disruption. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reiterated: “Players are not machines.” The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) escalated the issue by filing a complaint with the European Commission.

Another concern was the competitiveness gap. Heavy defeats, such as Auckland City’s 10-0 loss to Bayern Munich and Al Ain’s 6-0 defeat to Manchester City, highlighted the disparity. Teams from Asia, Africa and North America generally struggled, resulting in matches that lacked suspense and neutral appeal.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino acknowledged criticism from European clubs and fans, as well as concerns about heat, noting future use of roofed stadiums and cooling breaks.

Luka Modric (L) of Real Madrid vies with Senny Mayulu of Paris Saint-Germain during the semifinal match between Paris Saint-Germain (France) and Real Madrid (Spain) at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 at the MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, the United States, July 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

“So maybe some criticize it a little bit, but it’s something new. It’s something special,” Infantino said. “It’s a real World Cup with the best teams and the best players.”

He added: “The heat is an issue. Cooling breaks are very important, and we will see what we can do. But we have stadiums with roofs, and we will definitely use these during the day next year.”

Infantino emphasized the tournament’s value for underrepresented regions like Oceania: “Auckland City, to some extent, represents 99.9% of football players and fans – those of us who dream of being on that stage but may never get the chance. Suddenly, one of us gets to play against the best. It must be a place for everyone.”

REFEREEING REVOLUTION

The tournament also served as a testing ground for technological innovation. A key rule change from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) debuted: goalkeepers holding the ball for more than eight seconds would concede a corner kick.

FIFA Referees Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina reported widespread approval. “It was very successful. The tempo of the match improved, and we saw no time wasting by goalkeepers, as happened quite often before.” Only two violations occurred, fulfilling the rule’s preventative goal.

Referees wore head-mounted cameras to broadcast a first-person view, enhancing viewer engagement. Collina said the “ref cam” exceeded expectations and spurred interest in broader adoption.

Referees also announced VAR decisions on-field via microphone, while fans in stadiums viewed the same replays as officials, increasing transparency. Coaches used tablets for substitutions and real-time player data (e.g., distance covered, heart rate), reducing errors and supporting tactical decisions. Collectively, the innovations improved fairness and flow.

“The outcome of using the ref cam at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 went beyond our expectations,” Collina said. “We’ve received great feedback – people ask, ‘Why not in all matches?’ and even more: ‘Why not in all sports?’”

BILLION-DOLLAR GAMBLE

FIFA dramatically increased the prize pool from 16 million US dollars for seven teams in the previous edition to 1 billion dollars for 32 teams, surpassing the 440 million dollars awarded at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It became the richest prize pool in football.

Clubs earned money based on performance and commercial impact. Even bottom-ranked Auckland City received 4.6 million dollars – about seven times their 2024 total revenue.

Infantino dismissed skepticism over the tournament’s financial viability: “We heard it wouldn’t work financially, but we generated over 2 billion dollars in revenue from this competition. We earned an average of 33 million dollars per match. No other cup competition comes close.”

“It is already the most successful club competition in the world by all different measurements,” he added.

To maximize accessibility, FIFA struck a 1-billion-dollar global broadcast deal with streaming service DAZN, including free streams of all 63 matches in 32 languages.

New presentation features such as individual player walkouts and a mid-final halftime show added spectacle-but sparked backlash. The 24-minute halftime performance violated FIFA’s 15-minute maximum break rule.

Attendance figures varied widely: four matches drew fewer than 10,000 fans, with the lowest being 3,412 for a Group F match between Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns. Sixteen matches exceeded 60,000 fans, with the highest attendance at 81,118 for the Chelsea vs. PSG final.

“We respect everyone’s opinion,” Infantino said. “But it has been successful. We had over 2.5 million spectators in the stadiums – around 40,000 per match. No league in the world reaches that number, except the Premier League.”

MEDIA ZONE REFORMS

The revamped CWC mixed zone abandoned the traditional TV-first format. Instead, four interview pods were set up – two per team.

Clubs designated players to give interviews in their native language and in English. Written press were allowed to film and photograph, but videos could only be posted online one hour after the mixed zone closed and had to be removed within 48 hours.

Many journalists welcomed the guaranteed access. Marcio Dolzan of Brazil’s Lance contrasted it with the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, where reporters waited two hours for Argentine players, who avoided interviews entirely.

Others were critical. “Having covered nine World Cups, this format is unfamiliar,” said Antonio Carrasco of Venezuela’s Meridiano TV. “It feels like mini press conferences. All journalists hear the same thing. There’s no opportunity for exclusives or choice of whom to interview.”

West Lamy of The Huffington Post pointed out logistical issues: At English-language pods, non-English-speaking journalists often interviewed players in their own language, undermining the pod’s purpose.

FIFA provided translators, but they were often ineffective – journalists spoke over them or asked new questions before translations finished. Star players drew crowds, while others were overlooked. On-screen player data helped with question prep but didn’t solve access inequities.

“But if this is a change FIFA has already decided on, we will adapt,” Carrasco said.

MIL OSI China News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Olympians expected to make highlight as Universiade swimming kicks off

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

Swimming at the Rhine-Ruhr World University Games will feature several student-athletes who competed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

High-profile coaches who have been behind some of biggest stars will also be part of the Games.

Team USA will see Olympians Emma Lebron Weber and Jacob Ryan Mitchell as well as world junior mixed and women’s relay gold medalist Maxine Charlize Parker in the pool.

Olympians Julie Brousseau, Patrick Hussey and Emma O’Croinin will be the shepherds for Canada.

Canada’s Ashley McMillan will be on the chase for medals having made the final in the 200m individual medley at the 2024 world championships.

Britain will have a strong presence in the 100m breaststroke with Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Archie Goodburn in the squad.

Loughborough’s Fleur Lewis will be on the medal hunt in the 800m freestyle after breaking an 18-year-old British short-course record in the 1,500m freestyle at the BUCS Championships 2023.

With the World Aquatics Championships beginning immediately after the opening of the FISU Games, many student-athletes will be heading straight from Berlin to Singapore.

Among them is Paige Van Der Westhuizen from Zimbabwe, who studies at the University of Stirling in Scotland.

“I’m feeling good,” she said. “Having the World University Games just before the World Aquatics Championships will be tough, but I’m excited.”

Swimming Australia’s head coach Rohan Taylor, who had coached Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Leisel Jones, said that the FISU Games will also help provide an incentive to keep student-athletes in their sport.

“Athletes often face a crossroads that can end their careers,” Taylor said on Thursday. “They think they have to choose between university and a professional career of swimming.”

“The World University Games provide an incentive for athletes to continue developing both paths by keeping them in the sport longer.”

MIL OSI China News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Universiade: First gold goes to Denmark as Sandersen triumphs in taekwondo

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

With a Danish flag wrapped around her shoulders, taekwondo athlete Eva Eun-Kyung Sandersen raced around the venue Thursday after claiming the first gold of the Rhine-Ruhr World University Games in the women’s individual poomsae with a score of 8.732.

A nine-time World Poomsae medalist and 11-time European champion, Sandersen dominated the final with refined technique and precise coordination, finishing ahead of South Korea’s Jung Haeun. Kaitlyn Marie Reclusado of the United States and China’s Pan Meijing shared bronze.

“I feel so relieved,” said Sandersen, pausing to catch her breath in a post-match interview. “I’m really happy and proud of my trainer and everything we’ve worked for. I can finally tell them that we did something great together.”

Despite having stood on many podiums before, the gold at the University Games held special significance for the 24-year-old.

“I’ve practiced taekwondo for about 15 years. The sport is my whole life – it’s everything I think about. This gold medal means so much to me.”

This marked Sandersen’s first and last appearance at the Universiade. She had hoped to make her debut two years ago in China’s Chengdu, but a last-minute injury ended those plans.

“I was supposed to go to Chengdu, but I injured my knee just one month before, due to intense training over a long period,” she said, becoming emotional. “It was a tough time, and it was hard to recover both physically and mentally.”

Born to South Korean parents and raised in Denmark, Sandersen wasn’t introduced to taekwondo right away.

“My sports journey actually started with ballet,” she said. “But my mom suggested I try taekwondo because of our Korean heritage.”

After a decorated career that spans both continental and global success, Sandersen now hopes to combine her two passions: sport and science.

“I’m a student majoring in pharmacy, and ideally I’d love to find a way to blend pharmacy with sports. I want to promote taekwondo around the world and show people how beautiful it is.”

She also shared a personal dream: to one day see her discipline recognized at the Olympic level.

“I know individual poomsae isn’t currently part of the Olympic program, so I may never get the chance to compete at the Olympics,” she said. “But I really hope it will be included one day, and if it is, I’ll definitely fight for that glory.”

MIL OSI China News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: $120 million Auckland school property growth plan

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government’s investing more than $120 million into building more classrooms in Auckland, so thousands more students can learn in safe, warm and dry environments.

“Auckland is booming, and we are stepping up by investing heavily in extra classrooms to support the city’s rapid growth. Through Budget 25 funding, 137 new classrooms will be rolled out, creating space for an additional 3,014 student places in the network, supporting schools with growing rolls,” Education Minister Erica Stanford says.

“We’re delivering these through a combination of cost-effective repeatable designs and offsite manufactured buildings, so our funding can go further and more students benefit.

The schools getting classrooms are:

Bucklands Beach Intermediate – 2 classrooms
Helensville School – 1 classroom
Kauri Flats School – 4 classrooms
Lincoln Heights School – 6 classrooms
Macleans College – 8 classrooms
Massey High School – 8 classrooms
Mission Heights Primary School – 6 classrooms
Mountain View School – 6 classrooms
Northcross Intermediate – 8 classrooms
One Tree Hill College – 6 classrooms
Orewa College – 12 classrooms
Panama Road School – 4 classrooms
Papakura Normal School – 10 classrooms (in addition to the two learning support classrooms already announced)
Papatoetoe Central School – 4 classrooms
Papatoetoe East School – 4 classrooms
Papatoetoe Intermediate – 6 classrooms
Papatoetoe South School – 6 classrooms
Puhinui School – 2 classrooms
Pukekohe North School – 4 classrooms
Rangitoto College – 10 classrooms
Te Kura o Pātiki Rosebank School – 4 classrooms
Takanini School – 4 classrooms
Tuakau College – 6 classrooms
Whenuapai School – 6 classrooms

“All of these projects are expected to enter construction in the next 12 months. We are getting on with the job of future-proofing Auckland’s school network to keep pace with population growth.”

“I am also thrilled to announce we have confirmed a site purchase in Pōkeno to build a new primary school. We will also establish a new Junior College in Chapel Downs, on the site of Chapel Downs Primary School.”

The school is due to open in Term 1, 2027, with an initial roll of up to 270 which is expected to grow to 1000 students over time.

“Significant progress has also been made through Budget 24 property investment into two new schools. Te Kura Rau Iti in Flat Bush is in the final stages of construction and is set to open for Term 1, 2026. A new primary school in Massey Redhills is in construction and set to open in Term 1, 2027.

“These new classrooms and schools are a fantastic boost for students, teachers, and the wider community. We will continue to drive efficiencies in school property delivery so more schools, communities and children benefit sooner,” Ms Stanford says.

“Auckland is a magnet for talent, with thousands of people moving to our largest city each year to build a better life for themselves and their families. Ensuring that our city has the services and infrastructure for growth is a priority for our Government,” Minister for Auckland Simeon Brown says.

“The Government’s investment in new classrooms for our young learners will help Auckland accommodate growth, while also supporting construction sector jobs across the region.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: New school property agency to be established

Source: New Zealand Government

The Government will establish a new school property agency to help ensure Kiwi kids can learn in safe, warm and dry buildings.

“The Government inherited a school property system bordering on a crisis. The previous government made big promises to school communities, but its unfunded, bespoke, expensive projects weren’t deliverable and left schools across the country waiting – often for years – for the classrooms and refurbishments they so badly needed,” Education Minister Erica Stanford says.

“Our Government took immediate action to sort this out. We initiated a Ministerial Inquiry into School Property, I instructed the Ministry of Education to focus on offsite manufacturing solutions and improving communication with schools. A value for money review was also completed which helped inform a more fiscally responsible approach.

“These immediate actions are working, we’ve already lowered the average cost of a classroom by 28%, meaning we were able to deliver 31% more classrooms last year compared to 2023, 583 classrooms in total. Currently new classrooms cost on average $620,000, compared to the $1.2 million average cost per classroom at the end of 2023.

“The report also found the Ministry of Education’s processes for managing the school property portfolio needed overhauling, that schools struggled with a lack of transparency, unclear prioritisation of projects, and inefficient project planning and delivery.

“The Inquiry recommended the Government create a new entity separate from the Ministry of Education to manage school property. The Government accepted this recommendation, and Cabinet has now also agreed on the form that this new entity will take.”

The New Zealand School Property Agency (NZSPA), a new Crown agent, will be responsible for planning, building, maintaining and administrating the school property portfolio. The Ministry of Education will remain responsible for education policy and network decisions, including where growth is required. This separation will allow the Ministry to focus on education outcomes, while the board of NZSPA will be responsible for the school property portfolio.

“A Crown agent balances flexibility, transparency and Ministerial direction while bringing commercial discipline to the leadership and board oversight. It will have a dedicated board with the commercial acumen appropriate to support informed investment decisions for the second largest social property portfolio in New Zealand,” Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says.

“With the establishment of the NZSPA, schools can expect improved project delivery and communication, better value for money, and an increased level of transparency around decision making.

“The agency will be established in this Parliamentary term. A Ministerial Advisory Group will provide specialist independent advice on the transition to the new agency. This group is chaired by Murray McCully, with Mark Binns, Rick Herd, Sarah Petersen and Craig Stobo as the other members.

“School communities can be assured that works and improvements currently underway will continue as planned while we work through the next steps. Our focus remains on driving efficiencies across the school property portfolio through a combination of cost-effective repeatable designs and offsite manufactured buildings,” Ms Stanford says.

“We’re backing our schools with the infrastructure they need to succeed – for teachers, for communities, and most importantly, for kids.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: New search area for Melissa Trussell

Source: New South Wales – News

Police – including from the specialist Water Operations Unit – are today conducting a fresh search on Garden Island for the remains of Melissa Trussell.

A previously unsearched area of water and mangroves on the northern side of Garden Island will be the focus of today’s search.

This new location has been identified in a comprehensive cold case review of the original investigation that has also resulted in new leads being pursued by Major Crime Investigation Branch detectives.

The review has also led to numerous exhibits in the case being re-submitted to Forensic Science SA for fresh DNA testing using advanced techniques unavailable at the time of Rosemary’s murder and Melissa’s disappearance in May 2000.

Melissa, aged 15 years and her mother, Rosemary Brown, aged 33 years, were last seen leaving their home in Blair Athol at about 2.30am on Saturday 13 May 2000. The body of Melissa’s mother, Rosemary Brown was found in mangroves at Garden Island on 2 July 2000.

“As part of the renewed investigation, we have identified a previously unsearched area and we’re hopeful that we can find the remains of Melissa,” Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke, Officer in Charge of Major Crime Investigation Branch said.

“This search demonstrates that we will not give up looking for answers.

“We will continue to investigate this matter and will not stop until we can provide closure and hopefully justice for the loved ones of both Rosemary Brown and Melissa Trussell.”

Earlier this month, family of Melissa released a public plea for information exactly 25 years since Rosemary’s body was discovered in mangroves at Garden Island

“We would like to thank the public for new information provided to Crime Stoppers following this appeal,” Detective Superintendent Fielke added.

“We urge anyone with any information on this case, no matter how minute, to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au – you can remain anonymous.”

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

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

Police are today searching for the remains of Melissa Trussell after identifying a new search area on Garden Island.

MIL OSI News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: CARAT Thailand 2025 Concludes, Strengthening U.S.-Thailand Maritime Partnership

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

SATTAHIP, Thailand — The 31st iteration of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand concluded June 16, 2025 in Sattahip, following a series of exercises and exchanges between the U.S. Navy (USN) and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN). The exercise, which began on July 7, 2025, was designed to enhance maritime interoperability, strengthen partnerships, and promote regional security cooperation.

MIL Security OSI –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: National Defence signs technology partnership arrangement with Australia for Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar

Source: Government of Canada News (2)

July 17, 2025 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

On June 20, 2025, representatives of the governments of Canada and Australia signed a landmark technology partnership arrangement, a critical milestone in the rapid development and deployment of Canada’s A-OTHR system.

Through this arrangement, Australian industry partners will work with Canadian companies to build expertise and capacity in Canada, grow our domestic sovereign defence industry, support high-paying Canadian jobs, and help Canada scale up its own radar system and technology.

Canada’s Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR) system is a key component of Canada’s North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) modernization plan and will provide advanced early warning, enable faster detection and decision making by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for airborne threats, and provide long-range surveillance to meet Canada’s domestic and continental security needs.

After careful consideration, Canada determined that a technology partnership with the Government of Australia, which currently operates one of the most advanced Over-the-Horizon Radar capabilities in the world, would provide the best solution for strengthening CAF domain awareness of Canada’s northern approaches. It will also quickly deliver a crucial capability to the CAF and NORAD commanders.

The first stage of the A-OTHR program will deliver an initial capability by the end of 2029.

MIL OSI Canada News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fenced sanctuary closer for skink on the brink

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date: 18 July 2025

A recent survey of skink numbers shows the work is urgent and the fence, near Reefton, will be built earlier than planned to ensure the species’ survival.

Protecting a five-hectare area, the fence will be constructed from a durable stainless-steel mesh specially designed to keep mice, rats and stoats out.

Department of Conservation Ranger Supervisor Gemma Hunt says the fence will hopefully stop the population’s decline, turning the tide for the skinks.

“Even though we reduced mouse numbers earlier this year through pest control, there has been a constant threat of mice reinvading from outside the treatment area and continuing to prey on the skinks,” says Gemma.

“Long-term population monitoring by DOC and Auckland Zoo indicated there were between 40 and 100 skinks early last year, but more recent estimates suggest a worryingly low number of just 30.

“We hope to find more skinks when we continue our surveys this spring but in the meantime a predator-proof fence is necessary to secure the population and prevent extinction.

“Following the pest control operation earlier this year, we decided to move some skinks to safe housing at Auckland Zoo as a precaution,” says Gemma.

DOC and zoo staff managed to find three skinks in late autumn before cooler temperatures prevented further collection and these were transferred to the zoo.

“When it’s cold, the skinks burrow into the ground to protect themselves from extreme low temperatures and move very little. This not only makes it harder for us to find them but makes them easy prey for mice who can access these same burrows.

“Most Kiwis don’t realise just how bad the situation is for many of our native species. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of threatened species in the world, with 4,000 species, including the Alborn skink, at risk of extinction. Once these species are gone from here, they are gone for good.

“We know fenced enclosures work for protecting populations of skinks,” says Gemma.

“Other populations such as Kapitia skinks are doing great in the fenced enclosures DOC has built. We believe that two or three baby skinks are born to females each year so, if we can protect these families from predators, their numbers will steadily grow.

“We’re aiming to complete the $700,000 fence and remove predators by November and are optimistic that the remaining skinks should be able to breed quickly in relative safety.

“We’re asking the public to support our work through donations to the New Zealand Nature Fund. Your donations will help the skink population to recover to a healthy level, funding pest control, monitoring, and research into whether there are more populations of the skinks living nearby.

“Building this fence to keep predators away will help us stop an extinction in real-time. We might be playing all our cards now, but we need to go all in to make sure these skinks survive,” says Gemma.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Our performance evolution
Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

Download Our performance evolution

You can download a version of Our performance evolution (PDF, 674KB)This link will download a file.

Commissioner’s foreword

Since commencing as Commissioner of Taxation on 1 March 2024, I continue to be impressed by the expertise, professionalism and dedication of ATO staff.

Our performance is strong, but as with any organisation, we need to take opportunities to improve. Accordingly, I am grateful that the ATO has had the opportunity to be reviewed as part of the Australian Public Service Commission’s (APSC) capability review program, particularly so early in my tenure. Independent reviews such as this provide us with honest and frank perspectives on what to improve to set us up for the future.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the review team for their professionalism, rigour, and the depth of insight they brought to this process. Their extensive experience and thoughtful engagement have been invaluable.

The review found that we are a high-performing organisation, which is a testament to the dedication and capability of our people. At the same time, it has identified areas where we can do better – opportunities to strengthen our systems, sharpen our focus, and deliver even greater value to the Australian community.

We deliver well on our core purpose of collecting tax so government can deliver services for the Australian community. However, what delivers us success now will not be enough alone to achieve our vision for an Australia where every taxpayer meets their obligations because:
- complying is easy
- help is tailored
- deliberate non-compliance has consequences.
We need to examine what we do and how we do it, identify opportunities for improvement and make decisive shifts to unlock our full potential.

Our performance evolution will help us get there. Drawing on key insights from our APSC capability review, it outlines how we – as one ATO – will align our efforts to not only deliver today’s priorities, but also prepare for and tackle tomorrow’s challenges.

We are fortunate to be building on a strong foundation. The capability review identified many strengths we can be proud of. We’ll use these strengths to propel us forward on our performance evolution, taking practical actions to set a course for the future, where we will:
- think bigger
- act bolder
- deliver together.
While this plan does not outline every detail of the actions we will take, it establishes the key shifts that will empower us to strengthen what we do best, allowing us to adapt our actions as our environment changes.

The Executive team and I will play a key role here. We must role model the behaviours needed for the ATO to achieve its vision, drive accountability and ensure we don’t lose momentum. We must also openly and genuinely support employees to act as one to deliver our performance evolution.

Whilst the staff who support the Tax Practitioner Board (TPB) and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) are ATO staff, our performance evolution relates to those in the Tax Office itself.

I will leave it to the Chair of the TPB and the ACNC Commissioner to draw on the Capability Review insights that best serve the delivery of their statutory functions.

I’m grateful to have the opportunity to capitalise on our high performance and look forward to continuing to improve as we implement our performance evolution.

Rob Heferen

Commissioner of Taxation

Registrar of the Australian Business Register

Australian Business Registry Services

Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets

Unlocking the full potential of our high performance

‘The ATO is a high performing organisation with a strong reputation for managing Australia’s tax and superannuation systems in a modern and reliable way.

Its capabilities are good and ATO staff are right to be proud of them.

The findings [of the capability review] are not judgments on current capability, but rather ways the ATO might evolve to be a ‘great’ organisation.’ Capability Review, Australian Taxation Office, 2025 (PDF, 817KB)This link will download a file

The Australian Public Service Commission’s capability review affirmed the ATO’s position as a high performing and globally respected tax administration.

We have a proven track record and have excelled when circumstances have called for us to be at our best. Our role in the government’s response to the pandemic demonstrated what we’re capable of and underscored our potential to be truly exceptional. Learning from this and our many other successes, as well as our mistakes, we should not stand still. We need to continually improve.

The capability review’s insights inform where to focus our ongoing improvement efforts. This future view highlights the capabilities we need to adapt and respond to the changing demands of government, the community and our own operations.

Key insights from the review indicate that to continue to serve the Australian community with excellence and integrity, achieve our vision, and proactively address future challenges, we need to:
- work as one ATO to deliver for the Australian community, including through improved internal collaboration
- have a leadership group that works as a team and models the right behaviours
- establish enterprise-wide priorities and shared plans for achieving them
- make trade-offs for the sake of the organisation, work through impasses and take collective responsibility for decisions
- accept and reward measured risk taking in the interests of innovation, collaboration and achieving better, faster outcomes.
Our performance evolution sets us on a path to meet these needs and unlock the full potential of our high performance. It does so by bringing together current initiatives and building on the successes of the past to do some things differently and truly excel.

This plan is just the beginning. It lays a foundation for the ongoing implementation of a range of connected actions which will unlock our full potential. A future where:
- We will agree on our priorities, how much we are prepared to invest in achieving them, relevant trade‑offs and what risks those carry. We will align our resourcing and performance measures to them.
- We will clearly communicate our strategic direction and priorities under it, ensuring they are understood throughout the organisation.
- We will ensure accountabilities are clear, and advancing our strategic direction is a collective responsibility.
- We will make decisions far enough in advance to ensure that at both the group and individual level, we can effectively plan our contribution to the delivery of our enterprise priorities and our functional accountabilities.
- We will work as one ATO, so that improved internal collaboration becomes ‘business as usual’.
- We will engage sensibly with risk. To do this, we will think carefully about risk appetite, tolerances and sensible mitigations in the context of our strategic direction.
- At the individual level we will be supported in innovating and taking measured risks, aligning our efforts with our strategic direction and by having irritants taken out of how we work.
We will do this by thinking beyond function, beyond our teams and comfort zones.

From

To

Team first

Purpose first

Cautious action

Bold action

Siloed delivery

Shared delivery

Avoiding the hard calls trade‑offs

Courageous trade‑offs

Key shifts

Together, we will unlock the full potential of our high performance by moving together as one ATO, and adapting our mindsets and behaviours to:

Think bigger
Thinking bigger means seeing the broader picture and understanding where we are headed.

This requires each of us to:
- expand our view of what we can do to drive the ATO to succeed
- consider what is truly possible within our remit
- challenge assumptions of what is needed for us to achieve our vision.
If we are to challenge assumptions of what’s needed and expand our view of how we can help the ATO succeed, we first need a common understanding of what success looks like.

This will come from having a clear understanding of our longer-term direction, and the strategies we will prioritise to deliver on it. Clearly communicating our strategic direction (including our priorities, risk tolerances and areas where we are choosing to reduce our focus) will help:
- guide our actions
- sharpen our focus
- expand our perspective on the role we can each play in realising our vision.
We also need the means to think bigger. We will commit the right leadership, accountabilities, resources and funding to the work needed to deliver our purpose and achieve our vision.

Initial actions

Develop and communicate our strategic direction – We will agree on strategies that will move us forward in delivering our purpose and achieving our vision over the next 5 years and communicate the roadmap for delivery.

Align investment – We will invest our resources in line with our strategic direction.

Make clear decisions – We will be clear about our decisions on our priorities, their scope and implications (including for accountabilities, resourcing, performance measures and risks).
Act bolder
Being bold takes both individual courage and confident leadership to support our action.

This requires each of us to:
- proactively address issues
- work through impasses and make the call, including trade-offs needed to deliver on priorities
- use good judgment to make decisions and support those who do the same – regardless of the outcome.
With our strategic direction, priorities, functional accountabilities and shared responsibilities clear, we are trusted to use good judgment, sensibly engage with risk, and take decisive action within the parameters of our authority.

Doing this boldly will come from knowing that informed and decisive action is supported at the highest levels of the ATO and encouraged at all levels across the ATO. Acting within our remit, this will help us to:
- make decisive calls
- adopt innovative approaches
- act proactively to resolve impasses and agree trade-offs
- slow, change or stop work when we need to make room for higher priorities
- use good judgment to make sound, timely and innovative recommendations that inform decisions beyond our level of delegation.
Being bolder is also stretching our comfort zone, supporting mobility to expand our perspective and empowering people to take appropriate measured risks.

Initial actions

Support and reward decision-making – We will encourage and recognise:
- measured risk-taking
- staff who innovate.
We will support decision-makers with appropriate guidance and tools.

Reinforce support for mobility – We will increase mobility, including amongst our SES.

Clarify delegations – We will refresh and reinforce delegations and decision-making authorities.
Deliver together
We excel when we are aligned – around purpose, priorities and outcomes. Collaboration is just the starting point.

This requires each of us to:
- recognise that our impact goes beyond our function
- take shared ownership of our strategic direction, respecting any trade-offs
- move together to deliver our core purpose and advance our vision.
To deliver our core purpose and achieve our vision, we need to unlock the full potential of our high performance together – as one ATO.

Delivering as one ATO will come from:
- understanding both the big picture and the detail of how work flows, how different areas interact, and how it all fits together
- working collaboratively with those impacted by our work
- understanding what our part to play is.
Enhancing our forward planning and ensuring that effective internal collaboration is part of our ‘business as usual’ will help us:
- understand how our plans deliver our strategic direction
- take shared ownership of our plans
- know what we must do
- move together, to deliver what is needed.
This does not mean everyone doing everything. Accountabilities and decision-making will still lie with individuals, but understanding who else is responsible for contributing to those outcomes, and interconnecting our many moving parts will help us deliver together, as one ATO.

Delivering together also requires that we be proactive in reducing frictions that might otherwise divert our focus away from the work that contributes most to our purpose and vision. We’ll take action to reduce irritants in how we work, deliver incremental changes that improve our efficiency and lay a clear pathway to prioritise larger improvements.

Initial actions

Plan as one ATO – We will:
- bring planning discussions forward
- design and integrate our group and line plans to deliver on our strategic direction.
Agree on our part – We will ensure everyone understands their contribution, not just to their direct responsibilities and functional accountabilities, but to broader outcomes. We will agree on collective responsibilities for the priorities and outcomes that deliver on our strategic direction and reinforce collaboration expectations.

Address irritants – We will address some of the more pervasive technology irritants and smaller opportunities as informed by users through Pulse surveys and our Census action plan.

User insights will also inform and drive longer-term planning for the IT tools and data we need to work efficiently.
Be the key
We’re building on the strong foundations of a high-performing organisation that:
- is trusted by government and the community to get things done
- has a proven track record.
From this position of strength, we are making a call to action: Our performance evolution will only happen through positive steps and everyday actions taken by all of us.

We all need to contribute to unlocking the potential of our high performance. To do this we can ask ourselves some questions to help us get there.
- Think bigger:
  
  Do I know where we are headed?
  
  Am I putting myself in the Commissioner’s shoes?
  
  What positive change am I creating beyond my team?
- Act bolder:
  
  Have I raised necessary issues and worked through impasses?
  
  What’s standing in the way of me making decisions I’m empowered to make?
  
  How can I support my team to make the decisions they are empowered to make?
  
  Should I be getting outside my comfort zone?
- Deliver together:
  
  How am I contributing to organisational outcomes?
  
  Who should I work with to get it done?
  
  Do I have solutions for blockers or irritants impeding smooth delivery?
MIL OSI News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Europe urged to diversify trade markets over US tariff coercion, supply chains disruption

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

As Washington presses ahead with additional tariffs on products from the European Union (EU) and beyond, European officials and experts are urging the diversification of trade markets to mitigate the damage that such coercive financial statecraft is inflicting on global supply chains.

TARIFF GAME SETTING OFF CHAIN REACTION

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday that his administration would impose 30 percent tariffs on EU and Mexican exports, arguing that bilateral trade had long been unbalanced and lacked reciprocity.

Trucks wait to enter the Container Terminal Tollerort in Hamburg, Germany, May 28, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

The Irish Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald described the tariff threat as “volatile” and “not helpful at all.” “That poses a challenge for Ireland, for Europe, for the world,” she told Xinhua at a press conference in London.

Countries across Europe have been warning about the impact of the seemingly unrelenting tariff assaults on their economies.

The Bank of Slovenia estimated that U.S. tariffs could indirectly disrupt the broader European value chain and impact about 15,000 jobs in Slovenia, a significant number in a country of just 2.1 million people.

The Bank of England also said in its latest Financial Stability Report that the global economy faces rising downside risks, citing U.S. tariffs, and despite a new trade agreement between Britain and the United States in May, a further escalation in trade disputes globally could amplify financial stress and drag on economic growth in Britain.

Companies of all sizes, from those exporting to the U.S. to manufacturers heavily reliant on global supply chains, are feeling the strain that the tariffs are placing on their operations.

Neb Chupin, founder of Croatia’s Hermes International, a successful fig jam producer in the U.S. market, said, “With 10 percent tariffs, we are losing about 20,000 U.S. dollars a week. What would happen with 30 or even 50 percent tariffs? I cannot even sleep at night as the situation is very unstable.”

With 40 percent of exports going to the U.S., Finland’s pharmaceutical industry could also be severely affected by potential U.S. tariffs. Johanna Sipola, deputy CEO of Keskuskauppakamari, or the Finnish Chamber of Commerce, called the tariffs “unrealistic” and warned that the greater risk is the uncertainty they create.

“If the tariffs were implemented, the repercussions for international pharmaceutical production would be significant. The industry’s delivery chains are unusually global, and even minor disruptions can trigger substantial changes in medicine prices and demand,” Sipola said.

Beyond the immediate effects, the high-stakes tariff game is setting off a chain reaction across global supply chains and geopolitical dynamics.

Gavran Igor, an economic analyst from Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that the longer-term impact of the tariffs could prove even more damaging for Balkan manufacturers that are integrated into EU-based industries, particularly automotive supply chains.

Czech Republic’s Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura said that exports to the United States account for less than 3 percent of the country’s total exports. However, the country would also be indirectly affected through its European partners who purchase Czech goods and components.

STRENGTHENING COOPERATION WITH MULTI-PARTNERS URGED

Inevitably, even countries with modest trade ties to the world’s largest economy can still feel the ripple effects of Washington’s unpredictability. In response, experts recommend that European nations broaden their trade partnerships, especially with China, Southeast Asia and other regions.

“Europe must, in the long term, become more independent from the American market. A joint free trade zone with the ASEAN countries and the rapid ratification of the agreement with Mercosur are urgently needed,” Dirk Jandura, president of the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services, said in a statement after Trump’s new tariff announcement.

Mario Boselli, chairman of the Italy China Council Foundation, said that the shifting dynamics might prompt Europe to reconsider its external economic strategy. In his view, strengthening cooperation with China is a “highly strategic choice.”

“If economies, like the EU, China, the United Kingdom, Brazil and India, keep global trade open, the U.S. tariffs’ impact on global supply chains will be lower. That’s the opportunity,” said Carlo Altomonte, associate professor of the Department of Social and Political Sciences of Bocconi University in Milan.

Martin Geissler, Partner at the management consultancy Advyce & Company, echoed the suggestions by sharing Germany’s auto industry as an example. “German automakers have often not yet recognized the growth prospects that exist in Africa and many emerging countries,” Geissler said, contrasting this with China’s strategic engagement with multi-partners.

Bernardo Mendia, Secretary General of the Portugal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is leading a Portuguese delegation to the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing.

A key factor driving Portugal’s participation this year, in his words, is the rise of protectionism, logistical disruptions and geopolitical shifts. In the face of these challenges, China offers a distinctive platform to develop innovative solutions, business models, and collaborative partnerships, he said.

Looking ahead, experts believe that Washington’s trade policies could ultimately backfire on the U.S. economy itself.

“The U.S. needs many of our industrial products, which cannot be easily replaced in the short term. This allows German manufacturers of these goods to largely pass on the tariffs in their prices to the detriment of the U.S. economy,” said Juergen Matthes, head of International Economic Policy, Financial and Real Estate Markets Research Unit at the German Economic Institute.

MIL OSI China News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Favorites emerge as China’s giants dominate Women’s Asia Cup

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

The traditional powerhouses asserted their dominance as the group stage of the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup concluded on Wednesday, with China, Australia, Japan and South Korea all securing top-two finishes in their respective groups.

China will await its semifinal opponent, while Japan prepares for a qualification showdown against New Zealand on Friday. Australia, still seeking its first Women’s Asia Cup title, will face the winner of the South Korea-Philippines qualifier.

Zhang Ziyu (L) of China vies with Kim Pierre-Louis of Indonesia during the Group A match between China and Indonesia of FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Division A in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, July 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Ennan)

Defending champion China and world No. 2 Australia both advanced undefeated to the semifinals, but it was China’s tactical experimentation – led by the sensational debut of teenage center Zhang Ziyu – that captured headlines.

Under returning head coach Gong Luming, China breezed through its group. The tournament marks Gong’s first major competition since resuming leadership in February. He used the preliminary games to test several lineups, including a towering frontcourt pairing of the 2.26-meter (7-foot-5) Zhang with 2.11-meter (6-foot-11) Han Xu, as well as a center-less configuration.

“This team has only been together for a little over three months, and it takes time to build chemistry,” Gong said. “We have a prototype, but we are still lacking in many details.”

Zhang, 18, has been the breakout star of the tournament.

“Need we say more?” a FIBA website article noted. “China’s next great hope will finally grace FIBA’s flagship event for women’s national teams in Asia, as Zhang Ziyu is set to make easily one of the most anticipated senior debuts in recent years.”

Zhang has lived up to the hype, averaging 14.3 points on 81% shooting through three games. She and Han have formed a dominant pairing that Han believes is far from fully realized.

“Given our short time playing together, the ‘twin towers’ are probably only at 30 percent of our potential,” Han said.

China’s depth has also impressed. National team rookie Zhai Ruoyun, 27, knocked down four 3-pointers in her debut, while Jia Saiqi has anchored the defense with a team-high 2.3 steals per game. Offensively, China is averaging 95.3 points per game-second only to Australia.

For China’s rivals, Han’s confident words serve as a stark warning: “As long as we play our game, I believe no one can beat us.”

Australia, a medalist in every Asia Cup since joining the FIBA Asia zone in 2017, has looked equally strong despite a transitional roster. With only Chloe Bibby returning from 2023, the Opals have shown impressive cohesion, beating the Philippines and Lebanon by margins of 76 and 79 points, respectively.

Australia capped group play with a strong second-half comeback to defeat Japan, showcasing a remarkably balanced offense. Eleven of the team’s 12 players are averaging at least seven points per game, contributing to a tournament-high 102.3 points per game.

Japan’s journey through the group stage was more turbulent. Head coach Corey Gaines opted to rest key players, resulting in narrow wins over Lebanon and the Philippines by a combined margin of just seven points.

Veteran Maki Takada, 35, remains central to Japan’s offense, but their trademark 3-point shooting has been inconsistent. Japan leads the tournament in attempts (38.7 per game) but is shooting just 34.5%.

Ramu Tokashiki, 34, in her fifth Asia Cup appearance, has yet to find top form, averaging 5.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 three-pointer per game.

South Korea has leaned on perimeter scoring but suffered a major blow when top shooter Kang Lee-seul was injured in the opening game. Park Ji-hyun (16.0 ppg) and Choi I-saem (15.3 ppg) have stepped up to lead the offense.

Star center Park Ji-su is contributing across the board-averaging 7.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game-while providing a strong defensive presence and rebounding anchor for Korea’s gritty style of play.

The top six teams will qualify for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifiers. With a win over Lebanon to finish third in its group, the Philippines not only kept its semifinal hopes alive but also made history-securing its first-ever spot in the global qualifiers.

“This win represents everything we’ve been working hard on for the last 10 years or so,” said Philippines head coach Patrick Henry Aquino.

MIL OSI China News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leading lights of UK research spearhead search for world’s best talent
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release

Leading lights of UK research spearhead search for world’s best talent

12 leading universities and research institutions selected to deliver government’s £54 million fund to recruit world’s top researchers.
12 leading universities and research institutions selected to deliver government’s £54 million fund to recruit world’s top researchers

From AI to medicine, cutting-edge research is delivering the new breakthroughs and products that are key to economic growth, the core mission of the Plan for Change  

Global Talent Fund is just one part of over £115 million in funding dedicated to attracting top talent to the UK

12 of the UK’s leading universities and research institutions, across all 4 nations, will deliver the Global Talent Fund: a £54 million investment in Britain’s future prosperity and economic growth.

The new £54 million Global Talent Fund is designed to attract a total of 60-80 top researchers (both lead researchers and their teams) to the UK, working in the 8 high priority sectors critical to our modern Industrial Strategy like life sciences and digital technologies.  By bringing the very best minds in fields that will be critical to the future of life and work to the UK, we can pave the way for the products, jobs and even industries that define tomorrow’s economy, to be made and grow in Britain.

From Argentine César Milstein’s work on antibodies, to Hong Kong-born Sir Charles Kao who led the development of fibre optics, through to German Ernst Chain’s efforts to make penicillin usable in medicine, there is a long pedigree of overseas researchers making great breakthroughs whilst working in the UK. We want the UK to continue to be the natural home of the very best science and research, the world over.

Driving new tech innovations and scientific breakthroughs will fire up the UK economy and put rocket boosters on the government’s Plan for Change. The IMF estimates that breakthroughs in AI alone could boost productivity by as much as 1.5 percentage points a year, which could be worth up to an average £47 billion to the UK each year over a decade. Other technologies could be gamechangers too: quantum computing could add over £11 billion to the UK’s GDP by 2045, while engineering biology could drive anywhere between £1.6-£3.1 trillion in global impact by 2040. 

Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

Genius is not bound by geography. But the UK is one of the few places blessed with the infrastructure, skills base, world-class institutions and international ties needed to incubate brilliant ideas, and turn them into new medicines that save lives, new products that make our lives easier, and even entirely new jobs and industries. Bringing these innovations to life, here in Britain, will be critical to delivering this government’s Plan for Change.

My message to the bold and the brave who are advancing new ideas, wherever they are, is: our doors are open to you. We want to work with you, support you, and give you a home where you can make your ideas a reality we all benefit from.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

The UK is home to some of the world’s best universities which are vital for attracting international top talent. Supported by our new Global Talent Taskforce, the Global Talent Fund will cement our position as a leading choice for the world’s top researchers to make their home here, supercharging growth and delivering on our Plan for Change.

The institutions selected to deliver the Global Talent Fund are:

University of Bath 

Queen’s University Belfast 

University of Birmingham 

University of Cambridge 

Cardiff University 

Imperial College London 

John Innes Centre 

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology 

University of Oxford 

University of Southampton 

University of Strathclyde

University of Warwick 

These organisations will each get an equal share of the £54 million Fund, to use bringing some of the world’s foremost researchers and their teams to the UK. Each of them has a track record of recruiting and supporting top international R&D talent, as well as securing international competitive research funding to the UK. They are empowered to develop their own approaches and plans to spend their share of the Global Talent Fund to attract research talent from the around the globe in their choice of Industrial Strategy areas, including covering visa and relocation costs for researchers and their family members.

The Global Talent Fund, administered by UKRI, is just one part of over £115 million funding that is being dedicated to attracting the very best scientific and research talent to the UK. In addition to this fund, 2 fellowships have been launched, aimed at bringing groundbreaking AI research teams to UK organisations and labs: the £25 million Turing AI ‘Global’ Fellowships, as well as a UK-based expansion of the Encode: AI for Science Fellowship.

Alongside this, 2 new fast-track research grant routes have been announced by the National Academies – including £30 million from the Royal Society for a Faraday Discovery Fellowship accelerated international route, part-funded by their £250 million DSIT endowment. The Royal Academy of Engineering has announced a similar fast track international route, as part of its £150 million Green Future Fellowships endowment from DSIT – this funding will ensure the UK competes for the best global talent in science and research. While researchers looking to relocate to the UK can also benefit from the Choose Europe scheme, thanks to the UK’s association to Horizon Europe.

All of these efforts will be supported by the Global Talent Taskforce. Launched as part of the Industrial Strategy, the taskforce will report directly to the Prime Minister and Chancellor, and support researchers, scientists and engineers as well as top-tier investors, entrepreneurs and managerial talent to bring their skills to Britain.

Work to cultivate top AI research talent in the UK is further bolstered through the Spärck AI scholarships, which will provide full funding for master’s degrees at 9 leading UK universities specialising in artificial intelligence and STEM subjects. These scholarships will open for applications in Spring 2026. We also support postgraduate research broadly, with £500 million UKRI funding supporting over 4.700 students at 45 higher education institutions to study projects in biological, engineering and physical, and natural and environmental sciences.

Professor Phil Taylor, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bath, said:

Our university was founded with a mission to work closely with industry, and partnership working has been in our DNA ever since. We are truly delighted to play our part in attracting outstanding global academics to help power research in the UK’s industrial strategy priority areas.

This major investment recognises the vital role universities play in driving innovation and growth across the UK. We look forward to working with DSIT and UKRI to attract more bright minds to play their part in our innovation-fuelled and impact-focussed research.

Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor at Queen’s University Belfast said:

We are proud that Queen’s has been selected as one of the 12 institutions to deliver the Global Talent Fund. This funding will allow us to bring world-leading researchers to Northern Ireland in priority areas such as advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity, fields that are vital to our economy and to the UK’s global competitiveness.

By attracting exceptional talent from outside the UK, we are strengthening our research base, and helping to drive innovation within the local economy. This is a clear endorsement of the excellence and impact of research at Queen’s, and of our role in helping to deliver the UK government’s Industrial Strategy.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of Birmingham said:

I am delighted that the University of Birmingham has been selected to support the government’s vision to attract exceptional international researchers to the UK. In celebration of our 125 anniversary this year, our University is committed to investing in the recruitment of 125 leading researchers. The Global Talent Fund investment means that we will now go even further – drawing a diverse community of world-leading researchers to Birmingham. They will join a thriving and ambitious research environment, where the potential for discovery, collaboration, and impact has never been greater. We look forward to welcoming a new generation of global research leaders to our University and city and to seeing the positive impact their work will have on the UK economy and on the health and wellbeing of society.

Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge, said:

The University is grateful for this award of funding. The Fund will bolster emerging and accelerating research areas, in line with the goals of the government’s Industrial Strategy. This investment will be pivotal in securing and supporting international academic expertise and strengthening the strategic opportunities the University is seeking to catalyse for both the University and the UK more widely. We look forward to the opportunities this will unlock.

Cardiff University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Larner said:

We are delighted to have secured this funding to help us attract the world’s best minds to Cardiff and Wales.

It is a clear endorsement of our standing and place in the UK research community and sends a clear message that we are well-positioned to attract global talent. It will enable us to support more of the world’s leading academics in Wales – helping to further boost our research capacity and global reputation in key research areas.

Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London said:

Imperial College London is a global university and international researchers are central to our success. They bring fresh perspectives, new ideas, and a spirit of discovery that enriches our community and drives breakthroughs that benefit all of society – from tackling malaria to breakthroughs in quantum computing.

The Global Talent Fund will support our efforts to attract the brightest minds from around the world. We look forward to welcoming them and continuing to push the boundaries of knowledge together.

Professor Cristobal Uauy, Director designate, John Innes Centre said:

This funding is a major boost to our efforts at the John Innes Centre to attract ambitious world-leading researchers to join our Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet vision.

By bringing outstanding talent to the Norwich Research Park, we are strengthening the UK’s global leadership in bio-based innovation, data-driven biology, and sustainable, high-value agri-tech, key pillars of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

As a Chilean researcher who relocated to the UK, I’ve experienced first-hand the friendly, open and collaborative academic environment here. The world-class facilities, technology platforms and institutional support provided at the John Innes Centre are unrivalled. It’s the kind of environment where scientists can take bold ideas forward, build meaningful collaborations, and create lasting global impact.

Jan Löwe, Laboratory of Molecular Biology Director, said:

We welcome the government’s drive to attract global talent which addresses key barriers faced by researchers wishing to relocate to the UK.

The LMB’s scientific breakthroughs and technological advances have been driven by talented scientists of all nationalities since our origins in the 1940s. Science is a creative pursuit, and creativity thrives on diverse input from people of different backgrounds.

Research has no borders, and this funding will enable the LMB and fellow UK institutions to be competitive in the global scientific talent market and attract gifted scientists from around the world to drive UK innovations for the benefit of all.

Professor Irene Tracey CBE, FRS, FMedSci, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, said:

Oxford University has a long history of attracting exceptional global talent, enabling world-leading research, teaching, and innovation with wide-reaching social and economic impact. In 2021–2022, our science parks, knowledge exchange, and the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine contributed to a £6.6 billion boost to the UK economy, with our spinouts supporting over 31,600 UK jobs. Globally, the AZ vaccine is estimated to have saved over 6 million lives in its first year, resulting in a worldwide health economic impact of £2 trillion. The Global Talent Fund will draw internationally recognised experts to Oxford, building capability for future innovation and growth in the Industrial Strategy areas we have prioritised.

Professor Mark E. Smith, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, said:

We are proud that the University of Southampton has been chosen as one of the small number of organisations for this exciting and important initiative.

Attracting world-leading researchers to work in the United Kingdom will help to lead innovation in the technologies of the future, supporting industry and driving economic growth.

Southampton is a global University with a wealth of research talent and this funding will help us to build further on our existing strengths and partnerships.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, said:

We welcome this important investment in global talent that UKRI has committed to and the alignment it creates between the new Industrial Strategy and the research and innovation leadership that is critical to its success.

Strathclyde is proud of its position as a leading international technological university. We deliver impact collaboratively by bringing together the excellent talented people we have at Strathclyde and through working closely with partners in other universities, industrial partners, innovation centres and National Laboratories through research that addresses market opportunities and national priorities – from climate resilience and sustainable energy to health innovation, and security and resilience.

This new funding from UKRI and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology reflects confidence in our ability to translate cutting-edge discovery into real-world applications and solutions, working collaboratively with industry, government and global partners. It will enhance our research environment, widen our talent pipeline and further enable our mission as a place of useful learning.

Professor Stuart Croft, Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Warwick said:

The University of Warwick is known for our world-leading expertise in Advanced Manufacturing and the Arts and this £4.35 million investment will accelerate the development of innovative insights, solutions, products, and services in an inter-disciplinary way. It will also help drive inclusive regional and national growth in the Creative Industries.

Through our strong partnerships with SMEs, industry, and local councils, this initiative will play a key role in advancing UK innovation and delivering meaningful benefits to communities across the West Midlands and the wider UK. 

In our 60th anniversary year we are reaffirming our commitment to making a better world together and this funding will further strengthen our determination to deliver our vision.

Professor Christopher Smith, International Champion at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), said:

Global challenges from climate change to energy security, food systems to antimicrobial resistance do not respect borders, and neither should the research and innovation required to address them. Time and again, international collaboration has driven transformative breakthroughs: from the discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN, to the global effort to decode the complex wheat genome, enabling the development of high-yield, climate-resilient crops that support food security worldwide. The impact of global partnerships is clear.

The Global Talent Fund is a vital part of UKRI’s mission to support an open, dynamic, and diverse research and innovation system. By supporting our brilliant research institutes to attract outstanding individuals from across the world and foster collaboration between nations, we are strengthening the UK’s position at the heart of the global knowledge economy. This fund aligns with our enduring commitment to international engagement, and to working together to shape a better future for all.

Notes to editors

The £54 million Global Talent Fund comes over 5 years, starting in 2025/2026. The fund, administered by UKRI and delivered by universities and research organisations, will cover 100% of eligible costs, including both relocation and research expenses, with no requirement for match funding from research organisations. The initiative also includes full visa costs for researchers and their dependants, removing significant financial and administrative barriers to relocation.

Funding will be distributed evenly amongst the 12 research organisations.

The small number of world-class researchers, and their teams, who go on to be supported by these funds, will come to live and work in the UK via existing routes such as the Skilled Worker, Global Talent, and the Innovator Founder visas.

There are no plans to change existing visa routes – and the Immigration White Paper sets out the government’s broad approach to restoring order to the immigration system through the Plan for Change.

DSIT media enquiries

Email press@dsit.gov.uk

Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

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Published 18 July 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Regulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Promote American Chemical Manufacturing Security

Source: US Whitehouse

class=”has-text-align-center”>By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

1. The United States relies on a strong chemical manufacturing sector to support industries like energy, national defense, agriculture, and health care. These facilities produce essential inputs for critical infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, medical sterilization, semiconductors, and national defense systems. Maintaining a robust domestic chemical industry is vital to safeguarding the supply chains that underpin our economy and to reducing the Nation’s dependence on foreign control over materials critical to national resilience. As adversaries expand influence over key inputs, continued domestic production is essential not only to economic resilience but also to military readiness, public health, and national preparedness.

2. On May 16, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency published a final rule titled New Source Performance Standards for the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry and Group I & II Polymers and Resins Industry, 89 FR 42932 (HON Rule). The HON Rule imposes new emissions-control requirements on certain chemical manufacturing facilities, some of which were promulgated pursuant to section 112 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412.

3. The HON Rule imposes substantial burdens on chemical manufacturers already operating under stringent regulations. Many of the testing and monitoring requirements outlined in the HON Rule rely on technologies that are not practically available, not demonstrated at the necessary scale, or cannot be implemented safely or consistently under real-world conditions. For many facilities, the timeline for compliance as set forth at 89 FR 42953-42955 would require shutdowns or massive capital investments before any proven pathway to compliance exists. The HON Rule imposes requirements that assume uniform technological availability across facilities, despite significant variation in site conditions, permitting realities, and equipment configurations. A disruption of this capacity would weaken key supply chains, increase dependence on foreign producers, and impair our ability to respond effectively in a time of crisis. These consequences would ripple across sectors vital to America’s growing industrial strength and emergency readiness.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412(i)(4), do hereby proclaim that certain stationary sources subject to the HON Rule, as identified in Annex I of this proclamation, are exempt from compliance with those aspects of the HON Rule that were promulgated under section 112 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7412 for a period of 2 years beyond the HON Rule’s relevant compliance dates (Exemption). This Exemption applies to all compliance deadlines established under the HON Rule applicable to the stationary sources listed in Annex I, with each such deadline extended by 2 years from the date originally required for such deadline. The effect of this Exemption is that, during each such 2-year period, these stationary sources will be subject to the emissions and compliance obligations that they are currently subject to under the applicable standard as that standard existed prior to the HON Rule. In support of this Exemption, I hereby make the following determinations:

a. The technology to implement the HON Rule is not available. Such technology does not exist in a commercially viable form sufficient to allow implementation of and compliance with the HON Rule by the compliance dates in the HON Rule.

b. It is in the national security interests of the United States to issue this Exemption for the reasons stated in paragraphs 1 and 3 of this proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.

DONALD J. TRUMP

ANNEX I

1. Shell Chemical LP
i. Affected Facility/Source: Geismar Plant, Louisiana

2. SABIC Innovative Plastics Mt. Vernon, LLC
i. Affected Facility/Source: Manufacturing Plant, Indiana

3. Bakelite Synthetics
i. Affected Facility/Source:
a. Riegelwood, North Carolina;
b. Conway, North Carolina;
c. Crossett, Arkansas;
d. Louisville, Kentucky;
e. Lufkin, Texas;
f. Taylorsville, Mississippi

4. The Dow Chemical Company
i. Affected Facility/Source: Glycol II Plant, Louisiana

5. Trinseo LLC
i. Affected Facility/Source:
a. Trinseo Facility, Georgia
b. Trinseo Facility, Michigan

6. Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A.
i. Affected Facility/Source:
a. Formosa Plastics Corporation, Louisiana
b. Formosa Plastics Corporation, Texas

7. Union Carbide Corporation/The Dow Chemical Company
i. Affected Facility/Source:
a. Seadrift Operations, Texas
b. Hahnville, St. Charles Parish Facility, Louisiana

8. Westlake Vinyl’s LLC/Westlake Corporation
i. Affected Facility/Source:
a. Petrochemical Complex, Louisiana
b. Styrene Monomer Production Facility, Louisiana
c. Styrene Marine Terminal, Louisiana
d. Lake Charles South Facility, Louisiana
e. Lake Charles North Facility, Louisiana

9. BASF TotalEnergies Petrochemicals LLC
i. Affected Facility/Source: Port Arthur Facility, Texas

10. BASF Corporation
i. Affected Facility/Source:
a. Geismar Facility, Louisiana;
b. North Geismar Facility, Louisiana;
c. Freeport Facility, Texas

11. Rubicon LLC
i. Affected Facility/Source: Geismar Facility, Louisiana

12. CITGO Petroleum Corporation
i. Affected Facility/Source:
a. Lake Charles Refinery, Louisiana
b. Corpus Christi Refinery, Texas
c. Lemont Refinery, Illinois

13. INEOS Americas LLC
i. Affected Facility/Source: Bayport EO Plant, Texas

14. Celanese Corporation
i. Affected Facility/Source:
a. Narrows Facility, Virginia
b. Clear Lake Facility, Texas
c. Bishop Facility, Texas
d. Bay City Facility, Texas

15. Huntsman Petrochemical LLC
i. Affected Facility/Source:
a. Huntsman Pensacola, Florida
b. Huntsman Conroe, Texas

16. TotalEnergies Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc.
i. Affected Facility/Source:
a. TotalEnergies Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc., Alabama
b. Cos-Mar StyreneMonomer Plant, Alabama
c. TotalEnergies Polystrene Plant, Louisiana
d. Port Arthur Refinery, Texas

17. Indorama Ventures Xylenes and PTA
i. Affected Facility/Source: Decatur Facility, Alabama

18. Denka Performance Elastomer LLC
i. Affected Facility/Source: LaPlace Neoprene Production Facility, Louisiana

19. Sasol Chemicals (USA) LLC
i. Affected Facility/Source: Lake Charles Chemical Complex, Louisiana

20. Philips 66 Company
i. Affected Facility/Source:
a. Sweeny Refinery, Texas
b. WRB Refining LP Calvert Refinery, Illinois
c. WRB Refining LP Borger Refinery, Texas

21. Indorama Ventures Oxides, LLC
i. Affected Facility/Source: Port Neches Facility, Texas

22. Eastman Chemical Company
i. Affected Facility/Source: Longview Facility, Texas

23. DuPont Specialty Products USA, LLC
i. Affected Facility/Source: Pontchartrain Site, Louisiana

24. Stepan Company
i. Affected Facility/Source: Millsdale Facility, Illinois

25. Ascend Performance Materials Operations LLC
i. Affected Facility/Source:
a. Ascend Decatur, Alabama;
b. Ascend Alvin, Texas;
c. Ascend Pensacola, Florida

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – Campaign launched to boost school board participation
Source: Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa (NZSTA)

Te Whakarōpūtanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa – the New Zealand School Boards Association (NZSBA) has officially launched its national campaign, Get on Board 2025, to mobilise participation in the upcoming triennial school board elections.
The campaign aims to increase nominations and voter turnout for school boards (formerly boards of trustees) across Aotearoa, encouraging Kiwis to step forward and help shape the future of their local schools.

Created in-house, Get on Board 2025 builds on previous campaigns and brings a fresh new look, modernised resources and a digital-first approach designed to reach more prospective board members than ever before.

“School boards play a critical role in our education system. They make decisions that affect students, teachers and whānau across the country,” says NZSBA President Meredith Kennett.

“This campaign is about making sure all New Zealanders understand the value of community participation in their children’s education – and feel empowered to take part.”

With updated messaging, vibrant visuals and a strong focus on video storytelling and social media, the 2025 campaign is designed to highlight the value of school board service and the impact local governance has on student success.

Key features of the Get on Board 2025 campaign include:

A new campaign identity and refreshed resources for schools and boards, including digital and print-ready assets.

In collaboration with Foxton-based animator Fraser Munro, a promotional video (also translated into te reo Māori).

A redeveloped website – schoolboardelections.org.nz – built by our digital partner Somar featuring improved accessibility, clearer content and easier navigation for prospective candidates and voters.

Advertising across print, radio and digital (as well as TV via Whakaata Māori).

It sits alongside Mātauranga Iwi Leaders Group’s Whakapapa Decisions campaign to increase Māori participation in the elections.

The triennial elections are scheduled for September 2025. Nominations for most schools are now open, and NZSBA encourages everyone who is passionate about their school community to consider standing or nominating someone they know.

Visit www.schoolboardelections.org.nz for more information and join one of our community webinars or in-person sessions to see what it’s all about.
MIL OSI New Zealand News –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Claiming FRCGW as a credit this tax time

Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

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MIL OSI News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Coast Guard completes historic Quad Sail to strengthen Indo-Pacific maritime partnership

Source: United States Coast Guard

07/17/2025 06:36 PM EDT

SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) arrived in Guam, July 3, after a landmark multinational sail with representatives aboard from the maritime forces from Australia, India, and Japan—collectively known as the Quad. As four leading maritime nations in the Indo-Pacific, Quad nations are united in our conviction that peace and stability in the maritime domain underpin the security and prosperity of the region. We are committed to a region where all countries are free from coercion and strongly oppose any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.

For breaking news follow us on twitter @USCGHawaiiPac

MIL Security OSI –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Trade – Canada-NZ dairy dispute: A win for exporters

Source: BusinessNZ

ExportNZ is pleased to see a years-long dairy dispute between Canada and New Zealand resolved, unlocking higher export value for Kiwi business.

Executive Director Josh Tan says the outcome is a win for New Zealand dairy exporters, and a win for the rules-based trading system.

“It’s essential that our trade agreements function as they were agreed to – particularly in the current global trade context. Likewise, our trade partners should ensure they are playing by the rules.

“Canada remains a valuable trade partner to New Zealand. In agreeing to meet its obligations under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Canada has guaranteed better market access for Kiwi exporters and we commend them for honouring this agreed outcome.

“ExportNZ acknowledges the Minister for Trade and Investment and our New Zealand officials, for their persistent effort to reach the right outcome under the CPTPP agreement.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Energy Sector – New rules unlock network connection barriers to support electrification

Source: Electricity Authority

The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (the Authority) is making it easier and faster to connect to the electricity network so New Zealand can electrify faster.

The changes are the first steps in the Authority’s work to make it easier and more efficient for businesses, developers and other consumers to get access to the electricity network so communities and the economy can benefit.

The Authority consulted on a package of changes late last year, with a focus on reducing the time and cost to connect infrastructure such as public EV charging stations, manufacturing, and solar farms.

Authority General Manager Networks and System Change Tim Sparks says standardised rules about how the 29 lines companies process connection applications and how they develop and structure pricing for new and upgraded connections are vital to getting more electricity into the network and reducing costs.

“Inconsistencies and inefficiencies in the application processes and pricing methodologies across New Zealand’s 29 lines companies can add unnecessary time and cost to projects, particularly for those who want to operate in multiple regions,” Sparks said. “The changes we’ve announced today will help address these issues and unlock more of the barriers to electrification.

“Under the new rules, lines companies must offer the least-cost, technically acceptable solution,” Sparks said. “Any extra costs to enhance the connection – for example running the connection underground – will be paid for by whoever requested it. This ensures people aren’t paying for other network costs they didn’t ask for.”

The Authority’s changes include introducing processes for larger users wanting to connect – such as an EV charge point operator or a public transport operator electrifying its fleet – including setting timeframes for decisions. To date, large energy users haven’t had baseline protections because the rules have only applied to electricity generators directly connecting to the network. Providing a clear and consistent process will increase transparency and certainty for those needing to connect and make the process more efficient for everyone involved.

“We have been working with the Commerce Commission and industry on these improvements, which we believe will increase transparency and consistency and address some known issues. Overall, we expect both lines companies and those needing to connect will benefit from more efficient connection processes. All New Zealanders will benefit over time through increased choice and value as more services and infrastructure come online sooner.”

The Authority is introducing eight new requirements to improve the network connection application process and four new connection pricing requirements. The Authority is further considering two of the rule changes originally proposed in last year’s consultation papers to ensure they fully and effectively address the issues they are intended to resolve. They are:

– the ‘reliance limit’, which aimed to prevent already high-upfront charges from increasing further

– creating an obligation for distributors to connect all applications that meet certain criteria.

The Authority expects to further consult on these two further potential changes before the end of the year.

The Authority is now seeking feedback on the draft wording of the new connection pricing rules to ensure it accurately reflects the decisions made. The technical consultation on the draft wording of the new rules for connection application processes will open in August.

Most of the requirements for new connection pricing methodologies come into effect on 1 April 2026 to align with any other distribution pricing changes, as well as with the Commerce Commission processes. The new requirements for the connection application processes come into effect in the second half of 2026, allowing 12 months after the changes have been gazetted. The exception is the application process for large consumers, which will come into effect 18 months after being gazetted, as this involves entirely new processes that need to be developed.

For more information:

Distribution connection pricing reform decision paper

Network connections project stage one decision paper

Notes:The Electricity Authority is an independent Crown Entity with the main statutory objective to promote competition in, reliable supply by, and the efficient operation of, the electricity industry for the long-term benefit of consumers. The additional objective of the Authority is to protect the interests of domestic consumers and small business consumers in relation to the supply of electricity to those consumers.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Trade – Settlement of Canada dispute welcomed by DCANZ

Source: Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ)

Dairy exporters will benefit from the settlement of New Zealand’s CPTPP quota dispute with Canada, as announced by the Government today.

The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) welcomes the news and congratulates the Government for settling the long-running issue that has been costing New Zealand because of quotas that couldn’t be fully used. DCANZ also acknowledges the work of the previous Government in initiating the dispute process.

The heart of the issue has been Canada limiting the use of the 16 small quotas that facilitate CPTPP dairy access by allocating the majority of import licenses to its own processors, which mostly don’t use them. This practice, along with quota licence hand-back-and-reallocation happening late in the quota year and no penalties for under-use, has limited other importers with a stronger interest in New Zealand products from using the agreed access. Other administrative processes have also added cost and slowed trade when it does occur.

In 2023, a panel of trade law experts ruled that Canada’s approach did not comply with the CPTPP agreement requirements to administer the quotas in a manner that provides importers the opportunity to utilise the volumes fully.New Zealand was forced to trigger the mandatory negotiations allowed for under the CPTPP’s rules when Canada didn’t comply with this ruling. While not achieving the preferred immediate move to a simpler on-demand system so that quota licences only go to importers who want to use them, DCANZ agrees that adequate improvements have been made to settle the dispute.

DCANZ Executive Director Kimberly Crewther says she looks forward to New Zealand exporters enjoying an easier time trading into the 16 CPTPP dairy tariff rate quotas from 1 January 2026.

“The improved administrative provision that will result from this agreement will make the quotas commercially more usable and valuable for our exporters.

“Under the agreement, Canada will bring forward the dates for return and reallocation of quota licences that the initial recipients will not use and introduce penalties for recipients who either do not use their allocation or transfer it on to importers who want to use it.

“This has been a long time coming and we believe it will make a positive difference.

“We will be watching implementation closely. Significantly, if those changes don’t work, there is also provision that quota allocation could move to our first preference of an on-demand system.”

In the meantime, Crewther says DCANZ remains concerned that Canadian subsidised exports are continuing to harm New Zealand exporters’ interests in global markets for dairy protein products.

“Canada needs to be held equally to account for this, via the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

“Earlier this year, DCANZ joined United States and Australian dairy industry representatives in calling for government action to stop Canada from dumping artificially low-priced dairy protein exports on world markets.

“Its milk pricing mechanisms are enabling their dairy processors to access milk proteins at below the cost of production and so distort its export of a range of products.

“This practice is at odds with Canada’s international trade obligations and must be addressed as a matter of urgency under the WTO’s rules.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Minister welcomes Auckland Central Police Base

Source: New Zealand Government

The opening of the new Auckland central police station will mean higher police visibility, and accessibility to the public, our retail sector and business community, in the heart of our largest city,” says Police Minister, Mark Mitchell.

“The community have been asking for a central police station for some time, and I am very pleased that Police have been able to deliver on this.

“The public feel safer when Police are visible and when they know Police are close at hand and accessible.”

“Public safety is at the core of this Government’s law and order agenda and is what drives our police officers,” Mr Mitchell says.

“The base will be home to Auckland’s 51 inner city beat officers, who provide 24/7 policing coverage, and who continue to make a real difference in our largest city.

“Not only is their presence reassuring for public safety, the data also shows a reduction in crime types where the beat team operates.

“In the last year, victimisations are down 17 per cent, robbery has dropped 25 per cent, and theft is down by 21 per cent.

“These results are encouraging, and reflect the hard work of our police officers, alongside stakeholders including Auckland Council, the retail community including Heart of the City, business associations, and community volunteers.

“The presence of a central police base will continue to build on this work, by enabling Police to respond faster to crime in the CBD.

“There is no doubt this police base will have an important role to play in the community now and into the future.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Law and Research – Study slams Family Court’s reliance on ‘junk’ research – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

The Family Court is basing decisions on ‘junk’ evidence and putting children’s futures at risk, according to a new journal article.

You might imagine the expert evidence heard in the Family Court, such as what’s provided by court psychologists, would stand up to scrutiny… not so, according to a scathing new journal article.

The study suggests judges, lawyers and psychologists in New Zealand’s Family Court are routinely accepting ‘junk’ evidence to support critical decisions about children’s lives.

University of Auckland law scholar Associate Professor Carrie Leonetti reviewed 29 Family Court judgements under the New Zealand Care of Children Act in which court professionals claimed to be citing academic research to support their decisions. Her investigation finds they frequently cited material that was not academic research, instead relying on online content, unpublished handouts, and presentations from conferences or legal training sessions.

“Clinical psychologists, often working without specialised forensic training, are presenting evidence that would not withstand academic scrutiny,” she says.

“I’m shocked at how judges never go … ‘but but but’… and ask some questions. We need to define what’s real, what isn’t, what’s reliable, and what’s not.”

New Zealand’s Evidence Act 2006 and the High Court Rules require expert witnesses to base their recommendations on evidence that’s within their area of expertise and generally accepted within a scientific field and specify the literature they rely on. Yet Leonetti’s paper details breaches of these requirements – including experts opining outside their area of expertise, misrepresenting research, and failing to qualify sweeping claims.

Examples include statements like “almost all disclosures of sexual abuse by children whose parents have separated are false” or “studies show that all children are better off in shared care” – broad claims Leonetti says are based on misrepresented or misunderstood literature.

“The Court’s reliance on a small, fringe collection of writings from conferences, trainings, and legal journals rather than peer-reviewed science publications is dangerous and unjust.”

Associate Professor Carrie LeonettiAuckland Law School

Leonetti’s paper, published in the Indiana Health Law Review, says some professionals referenced controversial or discredited theories while omitting landmark studies like research into Adverse Childhood Experiences, which shows the long-term traumatic impact of exposure to family violence in childhood.

She says Family Court judges, lawyers, and psychologists frequently misrepresent or misuse academic literature, dismissing evidence they disagree with and cherry-picking non-peer-reviewed material to support pre-existing views.

The paper also identifies what Leonetti dubs “Family Court favourites” – a small number of obscure authors and articles cited disproportionately by court professionals, regardless of their academic significance.

“The Court’s reliance on a small, fringe collection of writings from conferences, trainings, and legal journals rather than peer-reviewed science publications is dangerous and unjust.”

She also highlights the high cost of accessing peer-reviewed scientific publications and the rise of “predatory” academic journals.

“Since the 2000s, thousands of online journals with little to no peer review have emerged, making it difficult for non-experts to identify scientifically valid research.”

This erosion of the meaning of academic publication, says Leonetti, has made it harder for non-experts, such as judges, lawyers, and court psychologists, to “separate the wheat from the chaff when deciding which literature warrants consideration and which is the functional equivalent of self-publication.

“These courts are essentially making life-changing decisions about children’s futures based on what amounts to professional folklore rather than scientific evidence.”

The study recomm

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Volcano Watch — Remembering a destructive Mauna Loa eruption 75 years ago

Source: US Geological Survey

Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates.

This photo was taken by a USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring webcam just before 6:00 a.m. HST on July 9, during episode 28 of the ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption. Mauna Loa looms in the background, illuminated by the morning sun. USGS photo.

Mauna Loa erupted frequently prior to 1950. Consistent written records of Mauna Loa eruptions begin in 1843. Between then and 1950, there were 30 Mauna Loa eruptions which means that before 1950, Mauna Loa erupted on average every 3–4 years.

Fast forward to 2025, and there have been only three eruptions of Mauna Loa in the past 75 years since 1950: 1975, 1984, and 2022. While the frequency of Mauna Loa eruptions has decreased in the past 75 years compared to the century before that, Mauna Loa remains an active volcano that will erupt again someday.

Eruptions of Mauna Loa generally start high in the summit region, above 12,000 feet (3,660 m) elevation. From there, eruptions can migrate into one of the two rift zones—the Northeast Rift Zone or the Southwest Rift Zone—or, less commonly, radial vents on the northwest flank.

During the spring of 1950, Mauna Loa inflation due to magma accumulating beneath the surface was evident on monitoring stations at the summit of Kīlauea. In May 1950, seismic activity in Mauna Loa increased, with the largest earthquake—a magnitude-6.4—occurring on May 29. On June 1, a swarm of earthquakes occurred, and at 9:25 p.m. HST the night sky was illuminated with red glow as a fissure system 2.5 miles (4 km) long opened high on the southwest flank of the summit region of Mauna Loa.

Activity at the initial fissure system only lasted a few hours, and lava flows stalled at about 9,000 ft (2,800 m) elevation. Soon after, two other sets of fissure vents opened lower on the Southwest Rift Zone, between 10,500–8,500 ft (3,200–2,590 m) and 8,200–7,810 ft (2,500–2,380 m) elevation. Lava fountains nearly 200 ft (60 m) high fed a system of complex braided lava flows that were moving nearly 5 miles (24 km) per hour down the steep west flanks of Mauna Loa. About three hours after these lower fissures opened, the first lava flow crossed Highway 11 and entered the ocean, destroying a gas station, post office, and several homes along the way.

Fourteen and a half hours after the eruption began, another lava flow crossed Highway 11; this second flow destroyed several homes and entered the ocean about 1.2 miles (2 km) south of the first flow. Activity at both of these lava flows and their ocean entries ceased within about a day.

Yet another set of fissure vents opened even lower on the volcano later the night of June 1, between 8,200–7,810 ft (2,500–2,380 m) elevation. A lava flow from this fissure entered the ocean by the afternoon of June 2, farther south than the two earlier flows. For the next three weeks, lava would drain from Mauna Loa volcano via this channelized lava flow into the ocean.

Before the eruption ended on June 23, Hoʻokena village was destroyed, including a post office, church, gas station, cemetery, and 5–6 homes. Structures of the Magoon Ranch, the Ohia Lodge, and several other vacation/fishing cottages were also destroyed. Lava flows crossed Highway 11 in three locations and one man, who had been looking after cattle on a ranch, was trapped between two lava flows for 28 hours before being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. Thirty-five homestead lots were later opened in Kona for people whose property had been covered by lava in 1950.

The 1950 eruption was the largest-volume eruption of the Southwest Rift Zone since written records began; lava flows moved quickly down steep slopes in the region to enter the ocean within hours of the eruption onset. Mauna Loa has been quiet since the Northeast Rift Zone eruption in 2022, but monitoring data indicates that magma is slowly accumulating within the volcano. As communities on the flanks of Mauna Loa continue to grow, Island of Hawaiʻi residents should not forget these past eruptions. While 75 years is long in the human time scale, it goes by like the blink of an eye for an active volcano.

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea has been erupting episodically within the summit caldera since December 23, 2024. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is WATCH.

Episode 28 of the Kīlauea summit eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu crater occurred on July 9, with approximately 9 hours of fountaining from the north vent. Summit region inflation since the end of episode 28, along with persistent tremor, suggests that another episode is possible. Current inflation data indicate that episode 29 is likely to start between July 17 and 18. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are elevated in the summit region during active eruption episodes. No unusual activity has been noted along Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone.

Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.

One earthquake was reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.0 earthquake 5 km (3 mi) SSW of Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on July 15 at 6:14 p.m. HST.

HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

Please visit HVO’s website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025

From	To
Team first	Purpose first
Cautious action	Bold action
Siloed delivery	Shared delivery
Avoiding the hard calls trade‑offs	Courageous trade‑offs

Category: Asia Pacific

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Breakups also impact social networks

So, what can we do?

Generations forced apart

The financial impact

Compounding disadvantage

Contact

Commissioner’s foreword

Initial actions

Initial actions

Initial actions

Leading lights of UK research spearhead search for world’s best talent

Notes to editors

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Updates to this page

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Source: BusinessNZ

Source: Electricity Authority

Source: Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ)