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Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pressley, Clarke, Van Hollen Lead Letter to the Administration Demanding Reinstatement of TPS for Haiti

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Text of the Letter (PDF)

    WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led 62 of their colleagues in the House and 23 of their colleagues in the Senate in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding the Trump Administration redesignate and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, which the administration recently canceled on questionable legal authority:

    In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “The July 1, 2024 Federal Register notice extending Haiti’s TPS cited ‘grave insecurity, gang violence, socio-economic collapse, and environmental disasters’ as an ongoing crisis warranting protection. However, your February 2025 notice asserts that the 18-month period lacked justification. This decision ignores the overwhelming evidence that Haiti remains an unsafe place for anyone to return to. These conditions cited on the July 1, 2024 Federal Register Notice have worsened. Armed groups now control over 90% of Port-au-Prince, terrorizing civilians with widespread kidnappings, sexual violence, and indiscriminate killings. The UN reports that at least 5,601 people were killed in Haiti last year as a result of gang violence, over 1,000 more than the total killings for 2023. As of September 2024, nearly half the population of the country— 5.5 million Haitians—require urgent humanitarian aid, with 1.6 million facing ‘catastrophic’ food insecurity. Gang sieges and arson attacks have internally displaced over 1,041,000 people.”

    The CROWN Act passed the House of Representatives in 2019 and 2022 but was blocked in the Senate.

    The Members continued, “The decision to rescind Haiti’s TPS designation is not a thoughtful policy in the best interest of the United States. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump explicitly singled out Haitian TPS recipients in rallies and interviews. This rhetoric mirrored his 2017 termination of Haiti’s TPS designation, which a federal court blocked for violating the Administrative Procedure Act and failing to consider country conditions. The administration’s current vacatur revives this legally dubious playbook, seeking to destabilize the lives of Haitian immigrants through shortened protections and heightened uncertainty.”

    “We request that you extend and redesignate Haiti for TPS for the statutory maximum of 18 months. Failure to extend and redesignate TPS would violate the INA’s requirement for data-driven decisions and abandon over 500,000 Haitians to a warzone the U.S. government has explicitly deemed unsafe. Congress intended TPS to be both a humanitarian tool and a pragmatic response to unstable conditions abroad. While DHS has discretion, that authority must be exercised with diligence, transparency, and fidelity to the law,” they wrote, before requesting responses to a series of questions regarding the legal basis and humanitarian and national interest considerations that led to the administration’s questionable decision to cancel Haiti’s TPS designation.

    House Signers (64): Pressley, Clarke, Adams, Amo, Beatty, Beyer, Carson, Casar, Castor, Cherfilus-McCormick, Chu, Clark, Davis (Danny), Frost, Garcia (Jesus), Garcia (Sylvia), Goldman, Hayes, Hernandez, Jackson (Jonathan), Jacobs, Jayapal, Jeffries, Johnson (Henry), Latimer, Lee, Lofgren, Lynch, Magaziner, McClellan, McGovern, McIver, Meeks, Meng, Mfume, Moulton, Norton, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pallone, Pingree, Pocan, Quigley, Ramirez, Raskin, Scanlon, Schakowsky, Scott (Bobby), Sewell, Soto, Suozzi, Swalwell, Thanedar, Thompson (Bennie), Tlaib, Tonko, Trahan, Vargas, Veasey, Velazquez, Wasserman Schultz, Waters, Watson Coleman, Wilson (Frederica)

    Senate Signers (24): Van Hollen, Blumenthal, Booker, Coons, Cortez Masto, Duckworth, Durbin, Gillibrand, Heinrich, Hirono, Kaine, Kim (Andy), Klobuchar, Markey, Padilla, Reed, Sanders, Schumer, Shaheen, Warner, Warnock, Warren, Welch, Whitehouse

    This letter has been endorsed by more than 100 organizations, including: UndocuBlack Network, African Communities Together, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, Church World Service, Communities United for Status & Protection (CUSP), FWD.us, Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, Family Action Network Movement, Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Haitian Bridge Alliance, Hispanics in Philanthropy, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef), Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Muslim Advocates, National Employment Law Project, National Partnership for New Americans, Nigerian Center, Presente.org, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, Quixote Center, Refugees International, Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN), The Advocates for Human Rights, The Border Network for Human Rights, United African Organization, Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center, Witness at the Border, Baker Interfaith Friends Refugees International, Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants, TPS-DED AAC, Haitian Support Center, Faith In Texas, Center for Law and Social Policy, Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP), Just Neighbors, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Immigration Hub, New York Immigration Coalition, Human Rights First, Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, Oasis Legal Services, Immigrants Rising, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, National Immigrant Justice Center, Borderlands Resource Initiative, Alianza Americas, Community Solutions, NH Conference, United Church of Christ Immigrant & Refugee Support Group, Immigrants Act Now, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, National Bar Association, Gainesville Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Justice, Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Justice, Cameroon Advocacy Network, Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants – LORI, Women Watch Afrika, International Refugee Assistance Project, Sanctuary for Families, Minnesota Freedom Fund, scaleLIT, Win Without War, Urban Mom Collective National Black Mom Coalition, We Are All America, Westside Justice Center, Freedom for Immigrants, Partners In Health, Service Employees International Union, SEIU, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA), Adhikaar for Human Rights and Social Justice, EqualHealth’s Campaign Against Racism,  Immigration Center for Women and Children, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE), Refugee Advocacy Lab, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, CASA, Immigration Law & Justice Network, Immigrant ARC, National Immigration Project, The Sidewalk School, TPS-DED AAC, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, United African Organization, United We Dream, Urban Mom Collective National Black Mom Coalition, We Are All America, Westside Justice Center, Win Without War, Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center, Witness at the Border, Women Watch Afrika, Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, Working Families United, Hope Border Institute, Washington Office on Latin America, La Raza Community Resource Center (SF), Mujeres Unidas y Activas, Center for Engagement and Advocacy in the Americas, Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN), Alianza Americas, The Episcopal Church, MomsRising, Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Inc. (CAB), Asian Law Caucus, and the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN-LA).

    The text of the letter can be read here.

    As Representative for the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District, Congresswoman Pressley serves as Co-Chair for the House Haiti Caucus and represents one of the largest Haitian diaspora communities in the country, with approximately 46,000 Haitians and Haitian-Americans living across the state and over half in the Boston metropolitan area. Additionally, Massachusetts is home to more than 4,700 Haitians with Temporary Protected Status.

    • On February 20, 2025, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs issued a statement condemning the Trump Administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
    • On November 14, 2024, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs issued a statement condemning violence in Haiti and calling on the Biden Administration to halt all deportations to Haiti.
    • On September 25, 2024, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs issued a statement condemning the false and dangerous lies about Haitian, Latino, and Asian immigrants.
    • On September 20, 2024, Rep. Pressley and her Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs joined colleagues and advocates at a press conference to stand in solidarity with Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio and across America, and to demand accountability for the harmful and false narratives perpetuated by Republicans.
    • On June 28, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Biden-Harris Administration’s extension and redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). 
    • On April 23, 2024, Rep. Pressley, alongside Co-Chairs Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), led a group of 50 lawmakers urging the Biden Administration to redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), pause on deportations back to Haiti, extend humanitarian parole to any Haitians currently detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detention centers, end detention of Haitian migrants intercepted at sea, and provide additional humanitarian assistance for Haiti.
    • On April 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs led a letter to House Ways and Means Committee leadership emphasizing support for the early renewal of the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Acts, commonly known as HOPE/HELP. 
    • On April 12, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Haitian-led activists, organizations, and a directly impacted person in Haiti for a press call urging federal action to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
    • On March 27, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and her colleagues on the Massachusetts congressional delegation in urging the Biden Administration to expedite visa processing for Haitians, particularly  for relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
    • On March 18, Rep. Pressley, Senator Markey, and the House Haiti Caucus led 67 lawmakers on a letter urging the Biden Administration to extend TPS for Haiti and halt deportations.
    • On March 12, 2024, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Cherfilus McCormick and Yvette Clarke issued a statement on the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
    • On March 6, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the recent jailbreak and State of Emergency in Haiti.
    • On December 8, 2023, Rep. Pressley and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke urged the U.S. Department of State to withdraw U.S. support for an armed foreign intervention in Haiti and encourage negotiations for a Haitian-led democratic political transition.
    • On December 6, 2022, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Biden Administration’s extension and re-designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
    • On December 1, 2022, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Cori Bush, and Rep. Mondaire Jones led 14 of their colleagues on a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Department to extend and redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
    • In September 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Velázquez led 54 of their colleagues on a letter calling on the Biden Administration to immediately halt deportations to Haiti and provide humanitarian parole protections for those seeking asylum. The lawmakers’ letter followed the Administration’s resumption of deportation flights to Haiti as thousands of Haitian migrants continue to await an opportunity to make an asylum claim at the border. 
    • In September 2022, Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues on the House Oversight Committee in demanding answers regarding the inhumane treatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, by Border Patrol agents on horseback and pushing to Biden Administration to end the ongoing use and weaponization of Title 42.
    • On August 17, 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Val Demings, Yvette Clarke, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), called on President Biden to appoint a new Special Envoy to Haiti, a position that has remained unfilled since September 2021.
    • On July 7, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Andy Levin (MI-09), Val Demings (FL-10) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) released a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.
    • On May 31, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Reverend Dieufort Fleurissaint, chair of Haitian Americans United, published an op-ed in the Bay State Banner in which they called on the Biden administration to withdraw support for de facto ruler of Haiti, Ariel Henry, and instead support an inclusive, civil society-led process to restore stability and democracy on the island. 
    • In April 2022, she joined her colleagues at a press conference reaffirming her support for President Biden’s decision to end Title 42. Full video of her remarks at the press conference is available here. Rep. Pressley applauded the Biden Administration’s end of Title 42 in a statement in April 2022.
    • On May 26, 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with with Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Andy Levin (MI-09), Jim McGovern (MA-02), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24), led a letter to United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Power urging her to act to ensure food security in Haiti.
    • On March 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Mondaire Jones called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky to fully end Title 42, cease deportations of people to Haiti and affirm their legal and fundamental human right to seek asylum.
    • On February 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley joined Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and 100 House and Senate colleagues in urging President Biden to reverse inhumane immigration policies – such as Title 42, originally introduced under the Trump Administration – that continue to disproportionately harm Black migrants.
    • On February 14, 2022, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), alongside Representatives Judy Chu (CA-27) and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), led 33 other House Democrats on a letter to Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, demanding answers about the agency’s justification for treating asylum seekers as a unique public health threat, how these expulsions are being coordinated, how asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations are being cared for, and more.
    • On February 14, 2022, Reps. Pressley, Judy Chu (CA-27), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) led 33 other House Democrats on a letter to CDC Director Walensky demanding answers about the agency’s justification for treating asylum seekers as a unique public health threat, how these expulsions are being coordinated, how asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations are being cared for, and more. Days later, Rep. Pressley once again called on the Biden Administration to reverse the Title 42 Order and other anti-Black immigration policies.
    • On January 12, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09), and Val Demings (FL-10) released a statement on the 12-year anniversary of the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010.
    • On November 21, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Senator Elizabeth Warren led the Massachusetts congressional delegation on a letter to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) calling on them to coordinate with the government agencies of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to assist newly arrived families from Haiti. 
    • On October 18, 2021, Rep. Pressley, and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Val Demings (FL-10), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Andy Levin (MI-09) issued a statement following the kidnapping of American and Canadian missionaries in Haiti.
    • On October 18, 2021, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the civil rights complaint filed by Haitian families demanding a federal investigation into the heinous actions perpetrated by federal officials at the border.
    • On October 22, 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and Reps. Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), sent a letter to Troy A. Miller, the Acting Administrator of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), demanding a briefing and answers regarding press reports of the inhumane treatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, by Border Patrol agents on horseback. 
    • On September 17, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07) led 52 of their colleagues calling on the Biden Administration to immediately halt deportations to Haiti and take urgent action to address the concerns of the Haitian Diaspora after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti.
    • On August 14, 2021, Rep. Pressley Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Val Demings (FL-10) and Mondaire Jones (NY-17) released a statement regarding the recent earthquake in Haiti.
    • On July 14, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Val Demings (FL-10) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas calling on him to take a series of steps to support the Haitian diaspora amid ongoing political turmoil in Haiti.
    • In July 2021, the Reps. Pressley, Clarke, Demings and Levin issued a statement condemning the assassination of President Moïse and calling for swift and decisive action to bring political stability and peace to Haiti and the Haitian people.
    • In May 2021, on Haitian Flag Day, Reps. Pressley, Levin, Clarke and Demings announced the formation of the House Haiti Caucus, a Congressional caucus dedicated to pursuing a just foreign policy that puts the needs and aspirations of the Haitian people first.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Stats NZ information release: New Zealand cohort life tables: March 2025 update

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    New Zealand cohort life tables: March 2025 update – 28 March 2025 – Cohort life tables track the mortality experience of people born in each year from 1876.

    Key facts
    Cohort life tables give the most authoritative measure of life expectancy, because they follow the mortality and survival of each birth cohort (people born in a specific year) at each age until death of the last survivor.

    Projections of remaining mortality enable a cohort life table to be completed when a birth cohort still has people alive. The results are based on National population projections: 2022(base)–2073.

    Life expectancy from the latest cohort life tables show that newborn:

    • boys born in the late 1870s (the earliest data available) could expect to live to around 51 years on average, and girls to around 55 years
    • boys born in the early 1960s (who are reaching 65-years-old) could expect to live to around 79 years on average, and girls to around 83 years
    • boys born in the early 2020s (the latest data available) could expect to live to around 88 years on average, and girls to around 91 years.

    Files:

     

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Stats NZ information release: Employment indicators: February 2025

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Employment indicators: February 2025 – 28 March 2025 – Employment indicators provide an early indication of changes in the labour market.

    Key facts
    Changes in the seasonally adjusted filled jobs for the February 2025 month (compared with the January 2025 month) were:

    • all industries – flat (up 1,157 jobs) to 2.36 million filled jobs
    • primary industries – up 1.0 percent (1,064 jobs)
    • goods-producing industries – down 0.3 percent (1,130 jobs)
    • service industries – flat (up 313 jobs).

    Files:

     

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Joins Colleagues to Reintroduce Bicameral Resolution Affirming Support for the Equal Rights Amendment

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) was proud to join Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with Congresswomen Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), in reintroducing their bicameral resolution to overcome a significant obstacle to the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). This resolution would remove an arbitrary deadline set by Congress in 1972, affirming the ERA as the 28th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex.

    “When I was 27, I represented my state at the National Women’s Conference in Houston—and I still have the ERA pin I wore that day. I’ve kept it all these years because the fight isn’t over. Two years ago, I went to Seneca Falls and met with the next generation of activists. Let me tell you—they are just as committed, just as fearless, as I was back then. And like me, they’re still waiting for this country to guarantee women the same constitutional protections as men,” said Congresswoman Garcia. “Those fighting against the ERA are the same ones who fear powerful women—the ones who pay us less, promote us less, and try to silence us. It’s long overdue to make the ERA the 28th Amendment of the Constitution. I stand today for justice, for fairness, and for future generations of women and girls who deserve fairness, justice, and equality of opportunities.”

    “For centuries, women – particularly women of color and LGBTQ+ folks – have been treated as less than – less deserving of pay, less protected by law, less free to show up as our authentic selves in a world that constantly pushes us down,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “By enshrining the ERA into law, we are taking the necessary step to center our most vulnerable and marginalized communities, close the gender wage gap, combat sex discrimination, reduce gender-based violence, ensure freedom over our bodies, and more. The time is now to affirm gender equality once and for all.”

    “The state of Alaska ratified the ERA and amended the State Constitution in 1972, and that is a legacy I am proud to continue advocating for at the federal level,” said Senator Murkowski. “It is past time for the equal rights of women to be guaranteed in the United States Constitution, and I will continue to advocate for the passage of this resolution until that is achieved.”

    “I am proud that Hawaii was the first state to ratify the ERA, but we must finally amend the Constitution to ensure that the next generation of women are guaranteed equal rights,” said Senator Hirono. “With the reintroduction of this resolution, we reaffirm our commitment to fighting for equal opportunity and equal rights for all. It has been over a century-long fight to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, and we won’t stop until gender equity is enshrined in the Constitution.”

    “Women throughout history have fought tirelessly against sexism and inequality, refusing to accept a world that denied them their full rights. Their courage paved the way for progress—but the fight is far from over. We are grateful for the leadership of Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Mazie Hirono, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley in reintroducing this important resolution, recognizing the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. This Women’s History Month we renew our commitment to the pursuit of true gender equality. The women who came before us didn’t give up, neither will we,” said Zakiya Thomas, President & CEO, ERA Coalition.

    “The Equal Rights Amendment is a short yet powerful declaration — ‘Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex,’” said Congresswoman Dean. “Words matter—and we must be explicit in our Constitution to ensure that equality is a reality for every person in our nation. I’m grateful for Congresswoman Pressley’s leadership in this century-long fight and in the enduring legacy of Congresswoman Shirley Chislom and others before us. We must expand the mission of the 19th Amendment and fulfill the promise of the ERA.”

    “There is no deadline for equal rights,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “The United States Congress and the required number of states have ratified the Equal Rights Amendment, which is over 100 years in the making. An arbitrary deadline will not stop progress on equal rights. Now is the time for Congress to pass this resolution to ensure that we enshrine equal protections for our mothers, sisters, daughters, and grandmothers who have championed this cause.”

    “Generations of women, especially women of color, have relentlessly fought for equal rights in a system that has long denied them fairness under the law — and that fight is far from over,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “I led the fight in Virginia to make our Commonwealth the final state needed to ratify the ERA, taking a stand on the right side of history. Now, we must finish the job by enshrining gender equality in the Constitution once and for all.”

    The Equal Rights Amendment was first introduced 100 years ago to codify gender equality. Since 1923, the constitutional amendment was introduced in every session of Congress until it passed in 1972 in both the House and Senate. Congress then placed an arbitrary seven-year deadline on the ratification process before extending the deadline to 1982, but only 35 ratified the ERA before the arbitrary deadline.  However, with the recent ratifications of the ERA by Nevada in 2017, Illinois in 2018 and Virginia in 2020, the 38 states needed for certification of the ERA to be become the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has now been reached.

    Ratifying the ERA, which states, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex”, would affirm women’s equality in our Constitution, enshrining the principle of women’s equality and an explicit prohibition against sex discrimination in the nation’s foundational document.

    As the 28th Amendment, the ERA would serve as a new tool—for Congress, for federal agencies, and in the courts—to advance equality in the fields of workforce and pay, pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment and violence, reproductive autonomy, and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. Enshrining this protection in our Constitution also ensures enduring protections for all Americans across the country.

    It would also signal to the courts that they should apply a more rigorous level of review to laws and government policies that discriminate on the basis of sex, making it more likely for them to be struck down.

    Congresswoman Garcia has been a co-lead on this resolution since she first entered Congress in 2019.

    Text of the resolution is available here.

    See the Congresswoman’s tweet here.

    On Equal Pay Day, I joined my colleagues in reintroducing a resolution to remove the arbitrary deadline on the Equal Rights Amendment. The fight for constitutional gender equality has gone on long enough. It’s time to make the ERA the 28th Amendment. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/r8R80EXLBI

    — Rep. Sylvia Garcia (@RepSylviaGarcia) March 25, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: On Equal Pay Day, Kamlager-Dove, Pressley, Murkowski, Colleagues Reintroduce Bicameral Resolution Affirming Support for the Equal Rights Amendment

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    With the 38-State Threshold for Ratification Met, Resolution Takes Critical Step Toward Enshrining Gender Equality in Constitution

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today on Equal Pay Day, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) joined Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Congresswomen Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), and Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) in reintroducing their bicameral resolution to overcome a significant obstacle to the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). This resolution would remove an arbitrary deadline set by Congress in 1972, affirming the ERA as the 28th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex.

    “There is no deadline for equal rights,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “The United States Congress and the required number of states have ratified the Equal Rights Amendment, which is over 100 years in the making. An arbitrary deadline will not stop progress on equal rights. Now is the time for Congress to pass this resolution to ensure that we enshrine equal protections for our mothers, sisters, daughters, and grandmothers who have championed this cause.”

    “For centuries, women – particularly women of color and LGBTQ+ folks – have been treated as less than – less deserving of pay, less protected by law, less free to show up as our authentic selves in a world that constantly pushes us down,” said Rep. Pressley. “By enshrining the ERA into law, we are taking the necessary step to center our most vulnerable and marginalized communities, close the gender wage gap, combat sex discrimination, reduce gender-based violence, ensure freedom over our bodies, and more. The time is now to affirm gender equality once and for all.”

    “The state of Alaska ratified the ERA and amended the State Constitution in 1972, and that is a legacy I am proud to continue advocating for at the federal level,” said Senator Murkowski. “It is past time for the equal rights of women to be guaranteed in the United States Constitution, and I will continue to advocate for the passage of this resolution until that is achieved.”

    “I am proud that Hawaii was the first state to ratify the ERA, but we must finally amend the Constitution to ensure that the next generation of women are guaranteed equal rights,” said Senator Hirono. “With the reintroduction of this resolution, we reaffirm our commitment to fighting for equal opportunity and equal rights for all. It has been over a century-long fight to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, and we won’t stop until gender equity is enshrined in the Constitution.”

    “Women throughout history have fought tirelessly against sexism and inequality, refusing to accept a world that denied them their full rights. Their courage paved the way for progress—but the fight is far from over. We are grateful for the leadership of Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Mazie Hirono, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley in reintroducing this important resolution, recognizing the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. This Women’s History Month we renew our commitment to the pursuit of true gender equality. The women who came before us didn’t give up, neither will we,” said Zakiya Thomas, President & CEO, ERA Coalition.

    “The Equal Rights Amendment is a short yet powerful declaration — ‘Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex,’” Congresswoman Dean said. “Words matter—and we must be explicit in our Constitution to ensure that equality is a reality for every person in our nation. I’m grateful for Congresswoman Pressley’s leadership in this century-long fight and in the enduring legacy of Congresswoman Shirley Chislom and others before us. We must expand the mission of the 19th Amendment and fulfill the promise of the ERA.”

    “When I was 27, I represented my state at the National Women’s Conference in Houston—and I still have the ERA pin I wore that day. I’ve kept it all these years because the fight isn’t over. Two years ago, I went to Seneca Falls and met with the next generation of activists. Let me tell you—they are just as committed, just as fearless, as I was back then. And like me, they’re still waiting for this country to guarantee women the same constitutional protections as men,” said Congresswoman Garcia. “Those fighting against the ERA are the same ones who fear powerful women—the ones who pay us less, promote us less, and try to silence us. It’s long overdue to make the ERA the 28th Amendment of the Constitution. I stand today for justice, for fairness, and for future generations of women and girls who deserve fairness, justice, and equality of opportunities.”

    “Generations of women, especially women of color, have relentlessly fought for equal rights in a system that has long denied them fairness under the law — and that fight is far from over,” said Rep. McClellan. “I led the fight in Virginia to make our Commonwealth the final state needed to ratify the ERA, taking a stand on the right side of history. Now, we must finish the job by enshrining gender equality in the Constitution once and for all.”

    The Equal Rights Amendment was first introduced 100 years ago to codify gender equality. Since 1923, the constitutional amendment was introduced in every session of Congress until it passed in 1972 in both the House and Senate. Congress then placed an arbitrary seven-year deadline on the ratification process before extending the deadline to 1982, but only 35 ratified the ERA before the arbitrary deadline.  However, with the recent ratifications of the ERA by Nevada in 2017, Illinois in 2018 and Virginia in 2020, the 38 states needed for certification of the ERA to be become the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has now been reached.

    Ratifying the ERA, which states, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex”, would affirm women’s equality in our Constitution, enshrining the principle of women’s equality and an explicit prohibition against sex discrimination in the nation’s foundational document.

    As the 28th Amendment, the ERA would serve as a new tool—for Congress, for federal agencies, and in the courts—to advance equality in the fields of workforce and pay, pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment and violence, reproductive autonomy, and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. Enshrining this protection in our Constitution also ensures enduring protections for all Americans across the country.

    It would also signal to the courts that they should apply a more rigorous level of review to laws and government policies that discriminate on the basis of sex, making it more likely for them to be struck down.

    Text of the resolution is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Burlison Welcomes Former U.S. Air Force Officer David Grusch as Special Advisor

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Eric Burlison (R-Missouri 7th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Eric Burlison (R-MO-07) is pleased to announce David Grusch, a decorated former U.S. Air Force officer and senior civilian intelligence official, as a Special Advisor. Grusch, recognized for his previous sworn testimony before House Oversight & Accountability Committee about the federal government’s Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) activities, will contribute his expertise to Rep. Burlison’s efforts to promote transparency regarding UAP and other matters on the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets. 

    “The American people deserve answers about UAPs,” said Rep. Burlison. “David Grusch has risked his career to expose critical information. His expertise will be vital as we work to uncover the truth and hold the government accountable.”   

    Grusch served 14 years in the Air Force, reaching the rank of Major, with a combat tour of duty in Afghanistan supporting counter-illicit finance, drug, and arms-trafficking operations with Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and ISAF. He later worked as a senior intelligence officer at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and from 2019-2021 officially represented the NRO on the UAP Task Force. In 2022 while at NGA, Mr. Grusch filed a federal whistleblower complaint with the Intelligence Community Inspector General (ICIG) which was found “credible and urgent” for reporting to the Congressional intelligence committees. In 2023, he testified before Congress, alleging that elements of the U.S. government had thwarted Congressional oversight, withheld information from proper Executive Branch officials and illegally concealed programs tied to the recovery and reverse engineering of craft of unknown, non-human origin. 

    “I’m both immensely humbled and deeply honored to join Congressman Burlison and his amazing team of professionals in pushing for government transparency,” said Grusch. “The public is rightfully demanding to know the truth and it is my true privilege for me to serve the people of this country once again. I will use all my expertise to support Rep. Burlison and help the US Congress restore full oversight while enabling the Legislative Branch’s ability to investigate and hold those accountable who have broken the law and lied not only to our Congress, but also to the Executive Office of the President, Director of National Intelligence, and Department of Justice.” 

    Rep. Burlison, a strong advocate for government transparency, underscores his commitment to government accountability and transparency on the UAP topic with this appointment. 

    VIDEO: NewsNation’s Blake Burman Discusses David Grusch Hire With Rep. Burlison

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Strickland, Moore Fight for Abortion Doulas in State Medicaid

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, during World Doula Week, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Representative Gwen Moore (WI-04) introduced the Abortion Data and Outreach to Unlock and Leverage Abortion Support Act, or the Abortion DOULAS Act. This bill would direct the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to conduct a study on the benefits of abortion doula care and provide recommendations to states on incorporating this care into state Medicaid programs.

    “With women’s rights consistently under attack, it’s important that women have access to the physical and emotional support that they need,” said Strickland. “Abortion doulas provide uniquely valuable support to patients and ensure women have a voice in their reproductive care experience.”

    “Abortion doulas provide comfort and support to women after receiving abortion care. Prior to Congress, I proudly served as an abortion counselor and helped women through an often-emotional process. Their work is especially important now in our post-Roe America. I am partnering with Rep. Strickland on legislation to support research on abortion doulas, so we can better understand their impact and as a result, better serve those seeking abortion care,” said Moore.

    “Abortion doulas offer vital physical, social, and emotional support to those seeking abortion care in what continues to be a chaotic post-Dobbs landscape,” said Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “The barriers to abortion access are even steeper for those living in under-resourced communities that often lack sufficient economic investments and health care infrastructure, making the expertise and care that abortion doulas offer even more valuable. Especially important are those abortion doulas who provide culturally competent care rooted in a deep understanding of the communities they serve. We thank Representatives Strickland and Moore for their leadership on this critical bill to improve patient access to quality health care experiences.”

    “While there has been a great deal of research into the benefits and incidence of doula care during the prenatal and postpartum period and during labor and delivery, there has been comparably less research into this topic for abortion doula care. Representative Strickland’s bill will help address this need by commissioning a comprehensive study on the benefits of abortion doula care and state coverage of abortion doula care, while also bringing to the topic the direct impact and experiences of abortion doulas and clients who have received abortion doula care. NHeLP has always been a supporter of doula care for all the ways in which a pregnancy can end, including doula care for abortion, and are proud to support this bill,” said Amy Chen, Senior Attorney at the National Health Law Program.

    Abortion doulas are trained, non-clinical professionals that provide emotional, physical, and informational support to patients before, during, and after seeking abortion care. Often times, abortion doulas act as patient advocates, help patients navigate the healthcare space, and possess culturally-relevant awareness that a medical professional may not consider.

    This bill is supported by the following organizations:

    • National Partnership for Women & Families
    • National Health Law Program
    • Surge Reproductive Justice
    • Physicians for Reproductive Health
    • National Network of Abortion Funds

    You can read the full bill text here.

    Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip of the New Democrat Coalition, Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Strickland Hosts Her Largest Telephone-Townhall Ever

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)

    Joined by former Social Security Administrator Martin O’Malley, and over 22,000 Constituents

    Lacey, WA – Yesterday, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) was joined by special guest, former Social Security Administrator Martin O’Malley, for her most widely-attended telephone-townhall with over 22,000 constituents.

    “I organized this Townhall to connect directly with you and respond to the thousands of messages I have received about the actions of the Trump Administration, said Strickland. “As your member of Congress, I have the responsibility to let you know how the actions are going to affect you and hurt you.”

    “There’s nobody fighting harder for Social Security, and the powerful beliefs we share, and the dignity of every person, and the truth that as Americans – we’re all in this together,’ said former Social Security Administrator Martin O’Malley. “And there is no act that a free people have ever put into law, that demonstrates that better than Social Security, which for 90 years has never ever missed a monthly payment.”

    The pair discussed the Trump Administration’s attacks on Social Security and how these cuts are impacting American seniors who worked hard for and paid into this benefit for decades. Strickland and O’Malley also denounced Elon Musk’s DOGE efforts to take away services that Americans rely on: safe travel, clean water, access to health care, and many more.

    Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip of the New Democrat Coalition, Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ants in your house? Here’s how they get everywhere – even high up in tall buildings

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tanya Latty, Associate Professor, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney

    Windy Soemara/Shutterstock

    Ants are among nature’s greatest success stories, with an estimated 22,000 species worldwide.

    Tropical Australia in particular is a global hotspot for ant diversity. Some researchers believe it could hold some of the richest ant biodiversity on the planet, with an estimated 5,000 species in the tropics alone.

    But if ants are so successful out in nature, why do they so often turn up in our homes and even upper-level apartments?

    And what can we do to keep them out?

    There’s probably an ant near you right now

    Ants dominate the planet in terms of sheer abundance.

    At any given moment, there are an estimated 20 quadrillion ants alive — that’s 20 followed by 15 zeros.

    In fact, for every human being, there are roughly 2.5 million ants.

    There are about 22,000 ant species worldwide. This one is called the Green tree ant (Oecophylla smaragdina).
    Tanya Latty

    So the short answer to “Why are there ants in my house?” is simply this: there are a lot of ants.

    We live on a planet where ants outnumber us by an almost unimaginable margin. The fact that a few occasionally wander into our homes shouldn’t come as a surprise.

    Ants work from home (yours, that is)

    Ants owe much of their success to their highly social nature.

    Within the colony, some individuals (female queens and male drones) are responsible for reproduction, while others (workers) are busy caring for the young, cleaning or foraging for food. Workers ants are always female.

    Ants may start off outside but at least some will probably eventually end up inside.
    Tanya Latty

    Ant colonies do not have leaders. They are an excellent example of collective behaviour and swarm intelligence, where individuals following relatively simple rules can collectively achieve far more than any individual could alone.

    Just as the individual neurons in your brain can’t compose music, play football, or read articles, the brain as a whole can achieve all these feats and more.

    Colonies of co-operating ants are capable of amazingly sophisticated behaviours such as:

    Ants even outperform humans on some cooperative cognition tasks.

    Credit: Wonder World.

    The highly social nature of ants is a big part of their success — and a key reason why they are so good at finding their way into our homes.

    Each colony contains thousands of intrepid workers, many of which are constantly searching for new food sources. If even a single ant discovers a valuable resource in your home, it can quickly share that information with its nest mates.

    Different ant species use different methods of communication, but the ones that most often invade our homes tend to use “pheromone trails”.

    When an ant finds a food source, she returns to her nest leaving little drops of pheromones as she goes; this trail guides other ants from their nest directly to the food source.

    This highly efficient communication system means a single ant can rapidly recruit thousands of its nest mates to any food it finds.

    Ants may also come inside in search of water, particularly when the weather is hot.

    Some species prefer to build their nests in humid environments, which might explain why they are often found in bathrooms.

    I once discovered an entire colony of sugar ants nesting inside my aquarium filter! The combination of high humidity and an enclosed structure made it an ideal place to build a nest.

    On the flip side, heavy rains can flood ant nests, prompting colonies to seek drier ground — sometimes leading them straight into our homes.

    Ants are incredible communicators.
    Dhe Tong/Shutterstock

    I live in an upper-floor apartment. How did ants get in?

    Many ant species are exceptional climbers, thanks to tiny adhesive pads and fine hairs on their feet.

    These specialised structures allow ants to stick to walls and find footholds even on surfaces that appear smooth to the human eye.

    Remarkably, some canopy-dwelling ants have evolved a behaviour known as “controlled descent” which protects them when they fall. By adjusting the position of their abdomens, falling ants can steer their trajectory, directing themselves back toward the tree trunk and safety.

    Ants often have tiny adhesive pads and fine hairs on their feet, which help them stick to walls.
    Mob_photo/Shutterstock

    How do I keep ants out of my house?

    Well, good luck. No matter what you do, ants will probably enter your house at one time or another.

    Finding a few ants in your home doesn’t mean your house is dirty. We simply live on a planet that is absolutely teeming with ants.

    To minimise unwanted ant visits, start by eliminating any potential food sources that could feed a hungry ant.

    Store all food in sealed airtight containers, clean behind the fridge and inside/under the toaster, avoid leaving pet food out longer than needed and make sure your bins are securely sealed.

    Ants have tiny stomachs, so even small crumbs or the residue from spilled sugary drinks can be enough to entice them back.

    If ants seem to be following each other in a line, try disrupting their chemical trail using vinegar or bleach. Be warned, however: ants are very good at repairing broken trail networks.

    Seal any small cracks or entrance points that might allow ants to get into your home and make sure your windows and doors have well-fitting fly screens.

    Insecticidal baits can kill ant colonies, but before you deploy the nuclear option, ask yourself: what harm are the ants really doing?

    Most common home-invading ants do not sting and are pretty harmless. They can usually be redirected simply by removing their food source.

    Ants are nature’s clean-up crew, tirelessly scavenging waste and helping to maintain a healthy, balanced ecosystem.

    They also play important roles as predators and seed dispersers.

    Before reaching for insecticides, consider whether a few ants in your house are truly a problem.

    Tanya Latty co-founded and volunteers for conservation organisation Invertebrates Australia, is former president of the Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour and is on the Education committee for the Australian Entomological Society. She receives funding from the Australian Research Council, NSW Saving our Species, and Agrifutures Australia.

    – ref. Ants in your house? Here’s how they get everywhere – even high up in tall buildings – https://theconversation.com/ants-in-your-house-heres-how-they-get-everywhere-even-high-up-in-tall-buildings-250625

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Policy tracker: how will Labor, the Coalition, the Greens and the independents make Australia better?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Digital Storytelling Team, The Conversation, The Conversation

    The Conversation, CC BY-SA

    ➡️ View the full interactive version of this article here

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

    – ref. Policy tracker: how will Labor, the Coalition, the Greens and the independents make Australia better? – https://theconversation.com/policy-tracker-how-will-labor-the-coalition-the-greens-and-the-independents-make-australia-better-253345

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Mental Health Australia welcomes Coalition commitment for youth mental health

    Source:

    The country’s peak mental health body Mental Health Australia welcomes the Coalition’s election commitment to increase youth mental health support and calls on all political parties and candidates to prioritise mental health in this Federal Election.

    See full media release at the PDF attached below. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Arrest made following altercation in Alma, Waitaki District

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police have arrested a man following an altercation where a person was seriously injured on State Highway 1, Alma-Maheno Road, at Alma.

    Police were called to a property on Oamaru-Alma Road about 1.10pm.

    A person was located in a serious condition and transported to hospital.

    Those involved are known to each other.

    Police swept into action locating and arresting the 24-year-old man shortly after, taking him into custody.

    He is due to appear in the Dunedin District Court tomorrow, Saturday 29 March, on charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Milestone for resilience work at Epitaph Rift, north of Haast

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    Work to reduce rockfall risk above SH6 north of Haast and south of Knights Point near the Epitaph slip site comes to an end next week, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

    The work, which has included the use of explosives and blasting to reduce and remove unstable pieces of rock above the road, has been underway since the November 2024 storm, which triggered rockfall and closed the highway for just under a fortnight.

    In order to do the explosives work safely, the highway has been closed for several hours two afternoons a week over recent months, affecting many road users, residents and businesses.

    “Rock scaling work will finish up on Friday, 4 April, with the final afternoon traffic closure on Thursday afternoon,” says Moira Whinham, Maintenance Contract Manager for NZTA on the West Coast.

    “This is a significant milestone for the recovery work at Epitaph rift which has removed large volumes of unstable material from the face, leaving the site safer for road users.”

    The Epitaph Rift, SH6, after scaling and explosives work to reduce the risk of rockfall onto the highway, 27 March, 2025:

    Micropile retaining wall below road level next stage

    The focus on site now shifts to the construction of a micropile retaining wall below road level.

    “This work started mid-March and is expected to continue through to May 2025, subject to weather. The team is working on the construction of 110 metres of micropiles, down to depths of up to nine metres, to support the outside shoulder of the road around the head scarp of the historic landslide below the road,” says Miss Whinham.

    The machinery needed to install the piles takes up a full highway lane, which will restrict traffic movements past this site, but for short periods of time.

    From Friday, 4 April, there will be 24/7, single lane Stop/Go traffic management in place past this historic slip site.

    People are asked to continue to plan their journeys with extra time built in, as there may be up to 30-minute delays during work hours at the site as the machinery moves around. Delays outside work hours will be around five minutes.

    This next stage of work is likely to continue through May, aiming to increase the strength of the road shoulder at this section of highway.

    * Updates on timing at Epitaph here:

    https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/west-coast/roadworks/488229(external link)

    Epitaph rift and slip sites, north of Haast, south-west of Paringa:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash: SH2, Maungatāwhiri

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police are in attendance at a serious crash on State Highway 2 near Maungatāwhiri this evening.

    Two vehicles are involved in the crash, which has occurred near the Maramarua Golf Club.

    It was first reported to Police at 4.24pm.

    Two people are in a critical condition, with a third person in a serious condition.

    Those in critical condition are due to be airlifted to hospital.

    State Highway 2 is currently closed in both directions.

    Diversions are due to be put in place, but we advise motorists to expect delays and to take an alternative route if at all possible.

    The Serious Crash Unit is being deployed to examine the scene.

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Travelling overseas? You could be at risk of measles. Here’s how to ensure you’re protected

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Archana Koirala, Paediatrician and Infectious Diseases Specialist; Clinical Researcher, University of Sydney

    Julia Suhareva/Shutterstock

    On March 26 NSW Health issued an alert advising people to be vigilant for signs of measles after an infectious person visited Sydney Airport and two locations in western New South Wales.

    The person recently returned from Southeast Asia where there are active measles outbreaks in several countries including Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.

    The NSW alert follows a string of similar alerts issued around Australia in recent days and weeks.

    If you’re travelling overseas soon, you could be at risk of measles. Here’s what to know to ensure you’re protected.

    First, what is measles?

    Measles is one of the most contagious viral illnesses. It spreads through the air when a person breathes, coughs or sneezes. On average, one person can infect 12 to 18 others who are not immune.

    Initial symptoms include fever, a runny nose, cough and conjunctivitis. Then a non-itchy rash usually starts around the hairline before spreading around the body.

    Measles is most common in children, and they’re also most vulnerable to getting very sick with the virus. Measles is severe in around one in ten children. Complications can include ear infection, diarrhoea and pneumonia, and, more rarely, encephalitis (brain swelling).

    However, adults can also catch and spread the disease, making up 10–20% of measles cases during outbreaks.

    Vaccination has saved millions of lives

    The first measles vaccine was licensed for public use in 1963, and it changed the trajectory of this disease. In the 21st century alone, measles vaccination is thought to have saved more than 60 million lives globally.

    The measles vaccine is free through Australia’s National Immunisation Program. It’s routinely given at 12 and 18 months of age. The first dose is combined with mumps and rubella (the MMR vaccine) and the second adds protection against chickenpox, or varicella (MMRV).

    False suggestions the measles vaccination is linked with disorders such as autism have been thoroughly disproven. The vaccine is very safe and highly effective.

    Measles is one of the most contagious viruses there is.
    fotohay/Shutterstock

    However, because the vaccine is made from a live virus, people with weakened immune systems (for example, those receiving chemotherapy for cancer or pregnant women) cannot have the vaccine even though they’re at higher risk of severe measles. Their safety depends on high community immunisation rates to reduce the spread of the virus.

    Because measles is so infectious, at least 95% of the population needs to be immune to prevent its spread.

    Immunity occurs from either two doses of measles vaccine or past infection. Measles vaccination was introduced in Australia in 1968. Most adults born before the mid-1960s would still be immune from a past infection. But vaccination is recommended for everyone else who is not immune.

    Immunity gaps are opening up

    Gaps in immunity to measles have opened up around the world due to challenges in delivering routine immunisations during the COVID pandemic, and, in some cases, reduced acceptance of vaccination.

    In 2023 only 83% of the world’s children received at least one dose of measles vaccine by their first birthday, down from 86% in 2019. This is not enough to halt spread.

    The withdrawal of US government funding from many global health programs, including a measles surveillance network that supports testing and outbreak responses, is throwing fuel on the fire.

    In Australia, small but progressive declines in the uptake of childhood vaccines over the past five years and immunity gaps in other age groups means our risk of outbreaks in increasing.

    Rates of childhood vaccination coverage have been declining slightly.
    Inna photographer/Shutterstock

    For example, coverage of the MMR vaccine at 24 months declined 0.4 percentage points between 2022 and 2023 (from 95.3% to 94.9% in Indigenous children and 95.1% to 94.7% in children overall).

    On-time vaccination rates – within 30 days of the recommended age – are also falling. The proportion of children who had their MMR vaccine on time dropped from 75.3% to 67.2% for non-Indigenous children and 64.7% to 56% for Indigenous children between 2020 and 2023.

    Measles outbreaks are increasing in Australia and across the world

    Measles cases are rapidly rising across the globe and more cases are arriving from overseas into Australia. So far in 2025, 37 cases have been reported compared to 57 in all of 2024, 26 in 2023 and seven in 2022. Most cases have been imported from overseas, but we’ve ascertained eight cases so far in 2025 were locally acquired.

    Many of the countries experiencing the largest measles outbreaks are popular travel destinations for Australians, including India, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

    But few countries are free of measles. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and various countries in Europe are all tackling outbreaks.

    As the incubation period – the gap between exposure and symptoms – is around seven to ten days, travellers may enter the country without knowing they’re about to become ill and potentially spread the virus to others.

    Protecting yourself and your family

    Although the usual age for the first measles dose is 12 months, the MMR vaccine can be given to babies as young as six months who are travelling to measles hotspots or during outbreaks.

    This early measles vaccine dose does not replace those given at 12 and 18 months, but will help protect the infant in the interim.

    It’s important all adults, particularly those planning overseas travel, know their vaccination or infection history. If you don’t, talk to your health-care provider about being vaccinated.

    Everyone who doesn’t have immunity from an infection should have two lifetime doses. Some adults, including those who have migrated from overseas, may have had none or only one dose when they were younger. If you’re unsure, there’s no harm in receiving a vaccine if you’ve had measles or have been fully vaccinated already.

    If you come back from overseas and need medical care, inform your health-care provider about your symptoms and recent travel before attending a clinic in person.

    Archana Koirala has worked on projects funded by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care and NSW Health. She is the chair of Vaccination Special Interest Group and a committee member of Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Infectious Diseases Group of the Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases.

    Kristine Macartney is the Director of the Australian National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS). NCIRS receives funding from the Australian government Department of Health and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, NSW and other state and territory health departments, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization, the NHMRC, the MRFF and the Wellcome Trust.

    – ref. Travelling overseas? You could be at risk of measles. Here’s how to ensure you’re protected – https://theconversation.com/travelling-overseas-you-could-be-at-risk-of-measles-heres-how-to-ensure-youre-protected-252802

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Panasonic in Numbers: Solar Power Generation Systems at 13 Global Panasonic Industry Sites

    Source: Panasonic

    Headline: Panasonic in Numbers: Solar Power Generation Systems at 13 Global Panasonic Industry Sites

    Solar power generation systems were set for activation at 13 global Panasonic Industry sites in FY2024, utilizing renewable energy to contribute to achieving net-zero CO2 emissions for the company by 2030.
    Implemented through an on-site Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)1 and self-owned systems, the total power generation at the 13 sites is estimated to be 15 GWh/year2, reducing CO2 emissions by 7,781 tons annually. That’s equivalent to the amount of CO2 absorbed by 555,000 cedar trees3 over the same period!
    The installation is part of Panasonic Industry’s Environmental Vision, which aims to achieve both “a better life” and “a sustainable global environment” through technologies that contribute to decarbonization and support circular economy.

    1 On-site PPA is a system where companies enter into contracts with power operators to purchase renewable energy generated by newly installed power generation facilities. In FY2024, this system was utilized at 8 locations: Saga, Yamaguchi, Kumamoto, Tajima, Kanazu, Tsuyama, Hanoi (Vietnam), and Batam (Indonesia).
    2 Calculated assuming a solar power generation rate of 15%.
    3 Based on the estimation that each cedar tree absorbs an average of about 14 kg of CO2 per year.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump’s sweeping auto tariffs trigger strong global backlash

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    People test-drive a vehicle during a media preview of the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on Nov. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    U.S. President Donald Trump has announced sweeping 25 percent tariffs on imported automobiles and certain automobile parts, a move that has sparked strong reactions from major trading partners and industry leaders worldwide.

    The announcement has drawn immediate backlash from American auto dealers and industry analysts, who warn that the tariffs will significantly drive up car prices and hurt consumers already facing rising costs.

    Cody Lusk, president and CEO of the American International Automobile Dealers Association, issued a statement cautioning that the tariffs would burden American families.

    “For auto dealers and their customers, already reeling from rising vehicle and parts prices, as well as high interest rates and insurance costs, these new tariffs pose an additional and unwelcome challenge to affordability,” Lusk said. “Tariffs can play an important role in balancing trade relationships and ensuring national security. But increasing barriers to trade also puts added pressure on the wallets of American families.”

    Industry experts echo these concerns. Kenneth Kim, senior economist at KPMG, estimated in a research note that new vehicle prices could increase by several thousand U.S. dollars, with some reaching hikes of 10,000 dollars or more.

    John Murphy, senior vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, warned that the tariffs would harm rather than help the U.S. auto industry.

    “The tariffs announced today will harm — not help — the U.S. auto industry, endanger many American jobs, and lead to a hollowing out of auto manufacturing in the United States,” Murphy said.

    Beyond the United States, global responses to the tariffs have been swift and firm. In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the measure, calling it “a direct attack” on Canadian workers. During his election campaign, Carney had vowed that his government would explore possible retaliatory measures.

    Previously, Carney had announced a “strategic response fund” worth 2 billion Canadian dollars (1.4 billion U.S. dollars) to bolster domestic manufacturing and counteract the impact of the tariffs. He emphasized the need to strengthen Canada’s auto sector by reducing reliance on cross-border supply chains.

    Auto parts often cross the border multiple times, and the added costs of tariffs and counter-tariffs would quickly snowball. Carney called that a “huge vulnerability” and promised to build an “all-in-Canada” manufacturing network to build more car parts domestically, limiting how often they cross the border during production.

    In Europe, the reaction was similarly critical. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed deep regret over the U.S. decision, emphasizing the importance of transatlantic trade.

    “The automotive industry is a driver of innovation, competitiveness and high-quality jobs, with deeply integrated supply chains on both sides of the Atlantic,” von der Leyen said in a statement. She added that tariffs “are bad for businesses, worse for consumers” in both the United States and the EU.

    She added that the EU would assess the implications of the U.S. decision while continuing to seek negotiated solutions.

    Germany’s automotive industry issued a strong rebuke, with Hildegard Muller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, warning that the tariffs would disrupt global supply chains and damage trade relations.

    “These additional tariffs will not only impact European manufacturers but also have direct consequences for the U.S. economy itself. The fallout from such measures threatens growth and prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic,” Muller stated, calling for immediate U.S.-EU negotiations to establish a fair trade agreement.

    Britain has also raised concerns about the potential fallout. British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves warned that escalating trade tensions would harm both economies.

    “Trade wars are no good for anyone. It will end up with higher prices for consumers, pushing up inflation after we’ve worked so hard to get a grip of inflation, and at the same time, will make it harder for British companies to export,” Reeves told local media on Thursday. “We are looking to secure a better trading relationship with the United States,” she added, noting that further discussions would take place later in the week.

    British industry leaders echoed her concerns. Mike Hawes, CEO of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, described the tariffs as “disappointing” and urged the United States and Britain to seek a constructive resolution.

    “Rather than imposing additional tariffs, we should explore ways in which opportunities for both British and American manufacturers can be created as part of a mutually beneficial relationship, benefitting consumers and creating jobs and growth across the Atlantic,” Hawes said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong trade ties.

    Japan, a key supplier of automobiles to the United States, is also bracing for economic repercussions. According to the Japan Research Institute, automobile production in the country is expected to decline by 4.3 percent annually due to reduced U.S. sales, while overall industrial production could drop by 0.6 percent as a result of the expanded tariffs.

    Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated that Japan would consider all options to counter the impact of the tariffs.

    “We are strongly urging the United States not to apply the 25 percent tariff to Japan,” Ishiba said, highlighting Japan’s contributions to the U.S. economy through investment and job creation. He also questioned the fairness of applying a uniform tariff to all countries.

    As the global backlash mounts, tensions between the United States and its key trading partners are intensifying, raising the stakes for future trade negotiations and economic stability.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Boao forum sends reassuring message to unstable, uncertain world

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    This photo shows the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    As crises flare across global hotspots — from geopolitical conflicts to rising protectionism — a strikingly different scene unfolded in the coastal town of Boao in southern Chinese province of Hainan.

    Amid the tranquility of the small town, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference opened with a timely theme: “Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future,” offering a rare space for cooperation and dialogue in an increasingly fractured world.

    “Our world is experiencing far greater instability and uncertainty,” Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said at the conference’s opening ceremony on Thursday morning.

    Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for strengthening mutual trust, enhancing win-win cooperation, promoting economic globalization and safeguarding the free trade system.

    Since Tuesday, when the BFA annual conference began its panels and sub-forums, the world has witnessed a series of escalating crises.

    U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on all vehicles and auto parts imported into the United States, a move seen as expanding trade protectionism. In the Middle East, Yemen’s Houthi group launched fresh attacks on a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Red Sea and “military targets” in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, in East Asia, deadly wildfires engulfed parts of the Republic of Korea (ROK), claiming lives and causing damage.

    Against this backdrop, Boao became more than just a venue for speeches; it became a space for confronting common challenges. Participants delved into issues that transcend borders, from building an open global economy and accelerating modernization in the Global South to addressing the climate crisis, demographic shifts, and the implications of artificial intelligence (AI).

    Asian economic integration

    Addressing the opening ceremony, Ding said that significant progress has been made in building an Asian community with a shared future over the past decade.

    He added that regional economic integration has been strengthened, and Asia’s share in the global economy is steadily rising.

    Highlighting the profound global transformations and the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, BFA Chairman and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the “Asian miracle” as, to a large extent, a product of globalization, free trade, and open regionalism.

    Ban Ki-moon, chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) and former UN secretary-general, speaks at the opening ceremony of the BFA Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Asian economic integration, many speakers noted, is gaining momentum, with regional frameworks like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) serving as a cornerstone for deepening economic ties.

    The RCEP has emerged as an important anchor for global free trade, said Kuang Xianming, deputy head of the China Institute for Reform and Development, adding that the world’s largest free trade agreement keeps opening up regional markets and advancing regional liberalization.

    The RCEP includes 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its five free trade agreement partners, namely China, Japan, the ROK, Australia, and New Zealand.

    Signs of growing cooperation were also seen in a recent high-level economic dialogue between China and Japan, which reached 20 consensus points on collaboration in areas such as green development, environmental protection, and elderly care services, among others.

    Meanwhile, a BFA report identified China and ASEAN as the most appealing economies in Asia. It noted that the inward and outward foreign direct investment dependence of Asian economies on the region itself reached 49.15 percent in 2023, underscoring the region’s growing economic interdependence.

    Answers for an uncertain world

    For many participants, the BFA annual conference was more than just an event for Asia. It served as a reminder that, amid global turbulence, platforms for dialogue and trust-building still exist and still matter.

    The Global South, whose economies contribute 80 percent to world economic growth, took center stage at the meeting.

    South-South cooperation today is greener, smarter, and more inclusive, said Xiaojun Grace Wang, Trust Fund Director of UN Office for South-South Cooperation, calling on the Global South nations to seize this era’s opportunities by enhancing collaboration on digital and data-driven solutions for sustainable development.

    Climate change and the governance of emerging technologies also dominated conversations.

    Helena Mcleod, deputy director general and head of the Green Growth Planning & Implementation Division at the Global Green Growth Institute, speaks at a panel discussion themed on “Addressing Climate Change: Issues and Solutions” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Helena McLeod, deputy director general and head of the Green Growth Planning & Implementation Division at the Global Green Growth Institute, underscored the vital role of legislation in accelerating the global green transition. “The legislative approaches have to be addressed, and that includes the carbon pricing and pollution control policies.”

    On AI, experts have warned of the risks of unregulated development. “If countries fail to anticipate and manage the risks of AI, they may find themselves inadequately prepared when challenges arise,” said Zeng Yi, a researcher with the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

    China’s reform and opening up continue to draw global attention. Since launching the drive in 1978, the country has transformed from an impoverished nation into a market-oriented economic powerhouse, driving high-quality development and creating opportunities shared with the rest of the world.

    Its GDP grew by 5 percent year on year in 2024, ranking among the world’s fastest-growing major economies while continuing to contribute about 30 percent to global economic growth.

    A panel discussion themed on “AI: How to Strike a Balance between Application and Governance” is held during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s resolve to deepen reform and opening up, Ban noted, has bolstered confidence in inclusive globalization and an open world economy, injected fresh impetus into a strong and balanced global recovery, and created new opportunities for international cooperation.

    “Opening up is a distinct hallmark of Chinese modernization,” Ding said, adding that the country will steadily expand institutional opening up, further improve market access for foreign investors, and expand trials to open sectors such as telecommunications, medical services, and education.

    “We warmly welcome businesses from all countries to invest and operate in China, participate in the process of Chinese modernization, and share in China’s development opportunities,” he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: An NSU graduate from the Republic of Korea has published a book about Russian-speaking residents of his country

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    A book entitled “Cheonan Independent Cultural City Archives 2024” has been published in the Republic of Korea, containing 10 entries about its Russian-speaking residents. The author of the publication is Oh Dong-gon, a graduate of Novosibirsk State University who studied at the NSU Humanities Institute in 2014-2015 under the student exchange program between the Busan University of Foreign Studies and NSU.

    Cheonan, the largest city in Chungnam Province, was selected as one of the first “legally established cultural cities” by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea in December 2019. From 2020 to 2024, the “Cheonan Culture City” project was promoted under the motto “An independent cultural city where the cultural sovereignty of residents is realized.” Oh Dong-gun served as a people’s correspondent for the Cheonan Culture City Center of the Chungnam Provincial Information and Cultural Industry Promotion Agency from June to October 2024. He interviewed Russian-speaking citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan living in Cheonan.

    The book presents 10 conversations with Russian-speaking residents of Cheokang, engaged in such areas as culture and art, beauty and health, restaurant business and trade, manufacturing and medicine, as well as social activities – participation in the work of the branch of the Koryo-saram Association in the Republic of Korea. The publication describes the experience of visiting the art and history museums in Cheonan by Russian-speaking students living and studying in the city of Asan, neighboring Cheonan. It also tells about a Russian grocery store in the Sinbudong quarter of the Dongnam district of the city of Cheonan, where a large number of Russian-speaking residents live.

    Oh Dong-gon says that his experience as a public correspondent for the Cheonan City Culture Center and as a Korean-Russian language tour guide at the Cheonan City Art Museum under the Cheonan Culture Foundation helped him in working on the book. For this work, he was selected as the best cultural volunteer last year and received a letter of thanks from the CEO of the Cheonan Culture Foundation for his contribution to local culture.

    — I am very glad that in the last year of the Cheonan Cultural City project, I was able to get acquainted with the lives of Russian-speaking residents who are members of the Cheonan and Korean society and wrote about them. The Cheonan Cultural City project was a valuable opportunity for me to confirm and apply in practice my knowledge of the Russian language, as well as the knowledge of the cultural diversity of territories and the coexistence of different peoples in a multinational society obtained at NSU. I hope that my works will further serve as historical sources of information about the Cheonan Cultural City project and its multinational population, and will also help spread the values of cultural diversity, mutual understanding and coexistence in the society of Cheonan and Korea as a whole. I am confident that my book will contribute to increasing interest in the Russian language, Russia and the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Korea, — said Oh Dong-gon.

    Reference:

    Oh Dongon is a citizen of the Republic of Korea, a graduate of the Russian Language Department at the Busan University of Foreign Studies.

    He studied Russian at the Busan University of Foreign Studies under Irina Mironyuk, senior lecturer at the Center for International Educational Programs at the Humanities Institute. In 2014–2015, he completed an internship at the Faculty of Humanities (since 2016, the Humanities Institute of NSU) of Novosibirsk State University under the scientific supervision of Sergei Alkin, associate professor at the Department of Archeology and Ethnography at the Humanities Institute.

    Oh Dong-gon’s research on regional studies and local history of Korea and Russia, including the history of passenger ships between Korea and Russia, Russian-speaking immigrants in Sinchang Township, Asan City, were presented in Russian by a Russian scholar.

    Currently, Oh Dong-gun works at the International Student Support Center of the Office of International Education and Cooperation of Sooncheonhyang University in Asan City.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Arrest in homicide investigation, Christchurch

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Damon Wells:

    This afternoon Police have arrested a person in relation to the homicide of Tyrone Munns in Christchurch on 9 March.

    At around 2pm today, Police – including Armed Offenders Squad – arrested the 29-year-old man at a Christchurch address. He is due to appear in Christchurch District Court on Saturday 29 March, charged with murder.

    I wish to acknowledge Tyrone’s family in this difficult time and hope that this arrest provides them with some degree of comfort as they grieve.

    I also wish to acknowledge members of the community who have come forward with information since the incident, which has assisted with today’s arrest. We hope that this news will provide some reassurance to our communities of Police commitment to pursue violent offenders and hold them to account.

    Finally, I wish to acknowledge the outstanding work of Police staff involved in the investigation and today’s arrest, and in the ongoing work to bring this case before the courts.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Employment Relations Authority members sought

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is seeking new members to fill multiple vacancies at the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) as several existing members have not been reappointed.

    The ERA is an independent body that helps resolve employment relationship problems and facilitates collective bargaining when issues arise. 

    “ERA members have an important role to play in supporting both worker and employer certainty and ensuring employers and employees do right by each other. It is important the ERA attracts committed and experienced people who can arrive at sound and reasonable decisions on employment law matters,” says Ms van Velden. 

    “There are five upcoming vacancies, and I am encouraging expressions of interest from candidates who understand the expectations, realities and demands of New Zealand’s various workplaces.

    “Much of my policy work programme is aimed at restoring certainty for all parties, for example by removing eligibility for remedies if the employee is at fault. I want to ensure that decisions made by the ERA inspire certainty in workplaces as well, which requires that the right people are appointed.

    “I note the experience and backgrounds of ERA members has been unbalanced. Currently, 76 per cent of ERA members have significant experience in the public sector, but only 48 percent in private business. I would like to see the make-up of ERA membership better reflect the proportions of public sector and private sector employment in New Zealand.

    “By having employment disputes resolved quickly we can ease the burden on New Zealand’s court system. It also means the parties involved will not need to waste as much time and money on trying to sort out work-related problems they may be experiencing.

    “This Government is committed to supporting thriving and productive workplaces. ERA decisions can have a material impact on the costs of being an employer and doing business and can impact workers’ confidence to enter or remain in the workforce,” says Ms van Velden. 

    Applicants will ideally be experienced in employment law or business and be adept at getting to the core of a problem and finding fair and equitable solutions. They can be based in either Christchurch, Wellington or Auckland.

    Applications can be made on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website: Employment Relations Authority Member Job Details | MBIEPROD.

    The application process closes on 20 April 2025. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Attendees at Asian forum call for cooperation to confront global challenges

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

    BOAO, China, March 27 — Global leaders and business representatives on Thursday called on countries to jointly address global challenges and contribute to a better future in Asia and the larger world.

    While addressing the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone emphasized that as the world faces numerous challenges, Asian countries must continue to strengthen regional and global connectivity through infrastructure development, and bolster policy coordination and people-to-people exchanges so as to promote mutual understanding and trust.

    Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, said in his speech, “The destinies of Asian countries are intertwined.”

    It is crucial to enhance cooperation in areas such as finance, trade, agriculture and talent exchange to jointly chart a clear roadmap for common prosperity and a shared future, Yunus added.

    Also addressing the forum, Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, CEO of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, said that the alignment between Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative has opened doors for foreign investment and technological exchange.

    He called for closer collaboration among countries to promote the free flow of expertise, goods and capital spanning multiple industrial sectors.

    Running from March 25 to 28, this year’s conference is themed “Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sharing a grand collection

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Fourteen years after the founding of their private Long Museum in Shanghai, Liu Yiqian and his wife Wang Wei decided to present some pieces from their most valued collection to the public.

    The exhibition Panorama: Timeless Imprints of Civilization features a selection of more than 200 artifacts, including oracle bones and bronze vessels from the Shang Dynasty (c.16th-11th century BC), ceramic wares from landmark periods, imperial furniture, and more others that span more than 3,000 years of Chinese history. Some objects have made news headlines in past decades for their exceptionally high auction prices.

    Such exhibits include a doucai (a porcelain enameling technique meaning “contrasting colors”) chicken cup from the reign of Chenghua (1465-87) in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), which Liu bought at an auction in 2014 for $36 million. Some have not been shown to the public for 10 years, while some are making their public debut, such as the Archaic Bronze Xijia Plate dating back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC) and a Celadon-glazed Ru Kiln (one of the famed Song Dynasty kilns located in Henan province) Brush Washer from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).

    “I don’t want to talk about the cost or value of my collection but rather the continued heritage of Chinese civilization through the past three millennia. Collecting is a personal journey but civilization belongs to everyone,” Liu said at the opening on March 21.The exhibition will conclude on June 29.

    “My husband and I began our collection over 30 years ago,” says Wang, who also serves as the director of the Long Museum. “It has been 14 years since we founded Long Museum. Starting from traditional Chinese art, we have gradually built a systematic collection, from classical to modern and contemporary Chinese art, as well as modern and contemporary world art.

    “Every piece in our collection has been carefully evaluated and selected based on its artistic and historical value,” she continues. “Especially for ancient Chinese art, we place a particular emphasis on lineage and provenance, as these works are not merely cultural treasures but also witnesses to history. Over the past three decades, these collections have woven together a string of unique stories that continue to unfold.”

    Nicolas Chow, chairman of Sotheby’s Asia and worldwide head of Asian art, writes in his preface for Liu’s collection of Chinese ceramics, “Together with the classical and modern paintings and calligraphies that he has gathered, they form perhaps the most significant collection of Chinese art assembled by a single individual in modern times”.

    This is the first time for the Long Museum to display so many assorted antiques, such as bones, bronze, jade furniture and ceramics, in an exhibition. As curator of the exhibition, Liu says that he put more effort into this exhibition than any other.

    “I wanted to find the best way to showcase these ancient objects in a modern structure made of armored concrete and create a dialogue between art and architecture that transcends time and space,” he says.

    The main exhibition hall of the Long Museum on the West Bund, one of its three locations, has an impressive 8-meter-high ceiling and a dark interior with lights focusing on each artifact.

    Liu especially wants to highlight a half-preserved jade memorial seal fragment of Empress Wen during the reign of Emperor Hongxi (1424-25) in the Ming Dynasty.

    “As far as I know, this is the only surviving jade seal from the court of Ming, and it has traces of being burned in a fire,” Liu says.

    While seals have long been an emblem of imperial power in China, they also tell of the cruelty and sadness behind the change in power and transition of dynasties, Liu adds.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Jiang Wen leads 7-member jury panel for Beijing film festival

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Jury panel of the Tiantan Award at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival.

    The 15th Beijing International Film Festival announced on Thursday that Jiang Wen, a renowned filmmaker known for blockbusters like “Let the Bullets Fly,” will serve as the jury president of the Tiantan Award, the annual event’s top honor.

    The other six jury members are actress Joan Chen, British director David Yates, actress Ni Ni, Finnish director Teemu Nikki, Swiss director-actor Vincent Perez, and Hong Kong art director Tim Yip.

    According to the organizers, the Tiantan Award competition has received a total of 1,794 film submissions from 103 countries, marking a remarkable 18.9 percent increase from last year’s 1,509 films.

    The 15 shortlisted films competing for the 10 awards include three Chinese films: actress Ma Li’s drama “Better Me, Better You,” the suspense tale “Deep in the Mountains,” and the crime film “Trapped.”

    As one of the festival’s highlights, nearly 300 outstanding Chinese and foreign films will be screened about 900 times across 33 cinemas in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

    Besides, “Ne Zha 2,” the most commercially successful Chinese film, which has stormed into the world’s all-time box-office list as the fifth highest-grossing, will feature an exhibition of hand-drawn posters by its director, Yang Yu, better known as Jiaozi (Dumpling).

    The festival also announced that Chen Sicheng, a veteran filmmaker who has made contributions to the industrialization of Chinese cinema, will serve as the president of the final jury for Project Pitches, a sector aimed at identifying and nurturing promising new creative forces for the domestic industry.

    The festival will be held from April 18 to 26.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Flower festival teams tradition with technology

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    With spring arriving in Shanghai and vibrant flowers blooming across the city, the annual Huazhao Festival held in the city’s Yuyuan is attracting visitors in traditional Chinese culture in a modern, dynamic way.

    The flower festival, held the second month of the lunar calendar to celebrate the flower goddess’ birthday, boasts a history of over 2,000 years. According to ancient beliefs, the flower goddess controls human reproduction, and celebrating her birthday has become a custom to bring prosperity.

    Running until the end of April, this year’s festival integrates traditional culture with modern technology, offering visitors a feast for the eyes and ears. Colorful light shows, parades of performers dressed as the flower goddess, and dance and musical performances are taking place at landmarks within Yuyuan, including its Central Plaza, Gold Plaza and Jiuqu (Zigzag) Bridge areas.

    Decorated with floral elements, the ancient architecture and sets are transformed into stages. With advanced projection technology, the dynamic lights jump to the beat of music on building roofs and laser beams flash across the fog on the lotus pond, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

    The music for the light show was tailor-made for Yuyuan by a French musical team, presenting a unique blend of East and West influences, tradition and modernity.

    Against the architectural backdrop, dance and music performances feature guofeng, a Chinese style that uses traditional cultural elements. The dance performance in the Central Plaza is a reproduction of a famed painting depicting ladies with floral headdresses in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and the folk music duet in the Gold Plaza blends ancient Chinese music with modern melodies, drawing large crowds.

    In addition to the innovative technologies and eye-catching shows, a slew of interactive activities are offered during the festival, particularly targeting young audiences. Working with the makeup team of Xiaohongshu (RedNote), a popular Chinese lifestyle platform, the festival includes a market offering visitors immersive experiences such as traditional makeup, fragrance sachet-making, flower hair-pinning, hair braiding, an arrow toss and poetry writing.

    “We are bringing some of our beauty bloggers and vloggers to the market to share their experiences. There are many visitors from home and abroad and we want to demonstrate our Chinese traditions and culture,” says Xu Tongru from the makeup team at Xiaohongshu.

    Wang Qiru, a 33-year-old makeup artist and popular makeup vlogger on the platform, was invited to the market to meet her followers and offer visitors to experience a popular makeup style from the Tang Dynasty. Becoming a makeup artist specializing in restoring ancient makeup styles in 2022, she hopes to help more audiences learn about this art form.

    “Most of my clients are 20 to 35 years old, and I have seen more people paying attention to our traditional culture recently. Although it is easy to gain interest and basic knowledge of traditional culture, such as hanfu and makeup, it takes a lot of time and effort if you go deep into it,” says Wang, noting that abundant knowledge of ancient Chinese history and culture is necessary for doing such classic makeup.

    Zhang Ruiqi, a 19-year-old university student in Shanghai, is one of Wang’s followers. Dressed up and doing makeup at Wang’s booth, she says she has been fond of ancient Chinese makeup since she was younger.

    “I find it interesting to dig into history by restoring ancient makeup styles. At first, my interest in traditional clothing was triggered by costume dramas but when I learned about real hanfu, I felt more fascinated. It’s worth studying,” she says with a smile.

    Foreign visitors at Yuyuan share Zhang’s perspective despite knowing little about the festival before attending. Gerald Mohnl, a 57-year-old Austrian, gained a “nice” experience at Yuyuan on his last day of a business trip to China. Making his first visit to the country and Shanghai, he was impressed by the electric vehicles and described the city as “very clean and super modern”.

    “We went through Yuyuan, which was a really nice experience. There are a lot of traditional buildings here. Chinese culture is interesting and totally different from our culture. It is very comfortable with friendly people,” he says.

    Susan Willis, an Australian nurse on her first visit to Shanghai, was about to finish her 10-day trip and was impressed by the buildings at Yuyuan.

    “The architecture is lovely, traditional and classic. Shanghai is an innovative and spectacular city,” she says, adding that she knew little about Chinese culture and felt she learned a lot.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. and ROK Marines Conclude Freedom Shield 25

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    CAMP MUJUK, South Korea — III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) and 1st Marine Division successfully completed a significant training milestone alongside their Republic of Korea (ROK) Marine Corps counterparts as exercise Freedom Shield (FS) 25 concludes. While this phase of training ends, the Korean Marine Exercise Program (KMEP) continues throughout the year.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wolf Pack continues ACE operations for Freedom Shield 25

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    GWANGJU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea — The 8th Fighter Wing deployed personnel back to Gwangju Air Base to further test its agile combat employment (ACE) capabilities and interoperability with the Republic of Korea Air Force as part of exercise Freedom Shield 25 March 9-14.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on March 27, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 6,00,525.74 6.14 3.50-7.35
         I. Call Money 16,238.23 6.16 5.15-6.35
         II. Triparty Repo 4,06,476.50 6.14 6.00-6.99
         III. Market Repo 1,76,079.11 6.14 3.50-6.35
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,731.90 6.29 6.20-7.35
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 1,640.37 6.31 5.50-7.40
         II. Term Money@@ 745.00 – 6.60-8.05
         III. Triparty Repo 22,477.00 7.26 5.75-7.60
         IV. Market Repo 776.63 7.04 7.00-7.10
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Thu, 27/03/2025 1 Fri, 28/03/2025 21,392.00 6.26
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Thu, 27/03/2025 1 Fri, 28/03/2025 1,114.00 6.50
    4. SDFΔ# Thu, 27/03/2025 1 Fri, 28/03/2025 2,01,622.00 6.00
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -1,79,116.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Fri, 21/02/2025 45 Mon, 07/04/2025 57,951.00 6.26
      Fri, 14/02/2025 49 Fri, 04/04/2025 75,003.00 6.28
      Fri, 07/02/2025 56 Fri, 04/04/2025 50,010.00 6.31
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       9,182.09  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     1,92,146.09  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     13,030.09  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on March 27, 2025 9,41,196.50  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending April 04, 2025 9,28,983.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ March 27, 2025 21,392.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on March 07, 2025 54,323.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2024-2025/2082 dated February 05, 2025, Press Release No. 2024-2025/2138 dated February 12, 2025, and Press Release No. 2024-2025/2209 dated February 20, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2024-2025/2490

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Emory S. Land Arrives in Darwin

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    DARWIN, Australia (March 25, 2025) – The submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) arrived in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia for a regularly scheduled port call, March 25. Darwin is the 17th port call of Emory S. Land’s current deployment, which began May 17, 2024.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program Brochure

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    These studies are conducted at 25 selected educational institutions across Asia and the Pacific, including 15 institutions in Japan. Between 1988 and 2024, Japan contributed US$220 million to the ADB–JSP, awarding a total of 4,469 scholarships to recipients from 37 member economies, with 40% of the scholars being female. This brochure provides an overview of the ADB–JSP.

    MIL OSI Economics –