NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Teaching Council shouldn’t be policing political speech

    Source: ACT Party

    “The Teaching Council should throw out a vexatious complaint against a teacher who expressed a political opinion online”, says ACT Education spokesperson Laura McClure.

    According to the Free Speech Union, a complaint has been made about a teacher who made a comment about the Treaty Principles Bill on Facebook. The complaint alleges that the teacher has breached the Teaching Council’s Code of Conduct, in particular the requirement for ‘manaakitanga: creating a welcoming, caring, and creative learning environment.’

    “The comment disagreed with the Teaching Council submitting against the Treaty Principles Bill on behalf of all teachers.

    “The Teaching Council cannot use its Code of Conduct to silence people having a political opinion outside the classroom. That itself would be a potential breach of the law.

    “This teacher has a right, like anyone else, to express their opinions freely on social media.

    “Teachers have contacted me to complain that they are uncomfortable with the fact that the Teaching Council made a submission against the Treaty Principles Bill. Clearly, they did not speak to their members.

    “The complaint is clearly an attempt to punish someone who holds the ‘wrong’ opinion on the Treaty, and it should be treated with contempt and thrown out.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 27 March 2025 A new home brings new opportunities Jack’s new home at a Kāinga Ora complex in New Plymouth has been life-changing in more ways than one. As well as having a stable place to call home, the complex’s community room has become the perfect place for Jack to focus on his future and take up new opportunities.

    Source: New Zealand Government Kainga Ora

    “I never had a home of my own,” says Jack. “I have always moved around and lived in temporary accommodation or on the street. It took me a while to get my head around the fact that I won’t need to leave my home anytime soon.”

    YMCA Taranaki manages the community space, which can be used by both tenants and the wider community.

    Deanne Phillips is the Community Space Coordinator. “Designed to meet the diverse needs of the community, we organise a variety of free activities and services in the community space to promote connection, well-being, and personal growth for everyone who walks through the door,” says Deanne.

    “I am passionate about creating an environment where people from all walks of life can come together, learn new skills, access information, and form friendships.”

    Through YMCA Taranaki’s network of other community organisations services, tenants can also access a wide range of other resources to support their personal and professional development.

    Jack says that most days, he visits the community space for a chat and to help out where he can, and Deanne has also supported him in looking at opportunities for his future.

    “She helped me with my application for a full driver’s licence and her encouragement and support were exactly what I needed. It’s the first time I have ever had my full licence.”

    “I am now also going to the YMCA gym around the corner on my own. A YMCA staff member wrote a workout programme and showed me how to use the equipment. These gym sessions have made a huge difference for my mental health, and I sleep better too.”

    Jack says his full driver’s licence opens more doors to employment and he is now looking for a job. Eventually, he would love to be able to buy his own car.

    “I have put my name forward to the YMCA to be a support worker for homeless people, as I have lived experience. It would be really rewarding.”

    “I love the community we have at our complex. All of us tenants look out for each other and know each other. I feel like I can give back to others now, which I haven’t always been able to do,” says Jack. 

    Page updated: 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Social worker legislation strengthens professional oversight

    Source: New Zealand Government

    New legislation passed in Parliament highlights the influential role social workers play in communities around New Zealand, supporting some of the most under-served and vulnerable members of our society.

    Minister for Social Development and Employment Louise Upston says the Social Workers Registration Amendment Bill, which passed its third reading, puts safety at the forefront.

    “Through this legislation we are tightening up a number of significant matters, including the process where social workers accused of wrongdoing may now be stood down before a formal investigation or criminal proceeding has started, reducing risk to vulnerable members of the public,” Louise Upston says.

    “Overall, the six policy changes and 10 technical amendments included in the legislation will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the wider Act. 

    “Each change separately has a small impact, but together, they strengthen protections and operations.

    “They also build on wider changes to the way social workers are governed, professionalising the workforce across the board.

    “For example, social workers all now need to formally register with the Social Workers Registration Board, and hold a practicing certificate, which must be renewed each year. 

    “In this way, we increase transparency within the profession and put its important status alongside similar professions in health, teaching and law, which all have mandatory registration.

    “It is crucial we have a workforce of social workers who are able to serve increasingly complex and diverse needs. I recognise the hard work and stressful situations they frequently find themselves in, and the need for professional protections too,” Louise Upston says. 

    The Bill under debate had been prepared in response to the Social Workers Registration Board’s 2020 review of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Act.

    “The 16 amendments passed today provide fit-for-purpose occupational regulation — an important part of ensuring the safety of both social workers and the public throughout New Zealand. 

    “These changes will help achieve better regulatory oversight, clarity for the workers themselves, and protections for the public,” Louise Upston says. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Urges New Yorkers to Claim Compensation for Inflated Generic Drug Prices

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today joined a bipartisan coalition of 49 other attorneys general in urging consumers to check their eligibility for compensation as part of a $39.1 million settlement they secured with generic drug manufacturer Apotex Corp. (Apotex) for its role in a massive, long-running scheme to inflate prices of generic drugs and reduce competition. Attorney General James and the multistate coalition previously announced a settlement in principle with Apotex along with a $10 million settlement with Heritage Pharmaceuticals (Heritage). The settlements are part of an ongoing multistate investigation into companies for prescription drug price fixing. The companies in the scheme, some of which increased prices by 1,000 percent, manufactured essential medications to treat diseases ranging from diabetes to cancer to ADHD. 

    “When companies collude behind closed doors to raise prescription drug prices, they put everyday New Yorkers at serious risk,” said Attorney General James. “The companies involved in this scheme inflated prices of vital medications used to treat everything from diabetes and heart conditions to cancer, and now we are holding them accountable. I urge any New Yorker who may have been a victim of this scheme to check their eligibility and claim the restitution they are owed.” 

    New Yorkers who purchased a generic prescription drug listed here between May 2009 and December 2019 may be eligible for compensation. To determine your eligibility, call 1-866-290-0182 (toll-free), email info@AGGenericDrugs.com, or visit www.AGGenericDrugs.com. 

    The settlements are the result of three lawsuits filed by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and a coalition of attorneys general against some of the nation’s largest generic pharmaceutical companies. The first complaint included Heritage and 17 other corporate defendants, two individual defendants, and 15 generic drugs. Two former executives from Heritage Pharmaceuticals, Jeffery Glazer and Jason Malek, have since entered into settlement agreements and are cooperating. The second complaint was filed in 2019 against Teva Pharmaceuticals and 19 of the nation’s largest generic drug manufacturers. The complaint names 16 individual senior executive defendants. The third complaint, to be tried first, focuses on 80 topical generic drugs that account for billions of dollars of sales in the United States and names 26 corporate defendants and 10 individual defendants. Six additional pharmaceutical executives have entered into settlement agreements with the coalition of attorneys general and have been cooperating to support the states’ claims in all three cases.  

    The lawsuits allege these companies engaged in a broad, coordinated, and systematic conspiracy to fix prices, avoid competition, and rig bids for more than 100 different generic drugs. The companies maintained an interconnected web of industry executives where these competitors met with each other during industry dinners, “girls’ nights out,” lunches, cocktail parties, and golf outings, and communicated via frequent telephone calls, emails, and text messages that sowed the seeds for their illegal agreements. Defendants used terms like “fair share,” “playing nice in the sandbox,” and “responsible competitor” to describe how they unlawfully discouraged competition, raised prices, and enforced an ingrained culture of collusion. 

    The drugs included in the scheme span all types – including tablets, capsules, creams, and ointments – and classes – including antibiotics, anti-depressants, contraceptives, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They treat a range of diseases and conditions from basic infections to diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, HIV, ADHD, and more. In some instances, the coordinated price increases were over 1,000 percent. For example, Digoxin, an essential heart medication manufactured by Heritage, tripled in price, causing patients to pay hundreds of dollars more for the drug. 

    In November 2024, Attorney General James announced the coalition of attorneys general had secured settlements with Apotex and Heritage. As part of the settlement agreements, both Apotex and Heritage have agreed to cooperate in the ongoing multistate litigations against 30 corporate defendants and 25 individual executives. Both companies have further agreed to injunctive relief to prevent future misconduct and a series of internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws. At the time of the announcement, the settlement with Apotex was conditioned on the signatures of all necessary states and territories. Those signatures have been obtained, and the coalition is filing the settlement today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.

    Joining Attorney General James in securing the settlements are the attorneys general of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

    These settlements are the latest example of Attorney General James taking action to stop companies from engaging in anticompetitive conduct and harming New Yorkers. Earlier this month, Attorney General James won her case against ski resort owner Intermountain for illegally buying and shutting down a competitor. Also in March, Attorney General James secured a settlement with the NCAA that will end its anticompetitive rules preventing student athletes from learning about name, image, and likeness compensation opportunities before committing to a school. In January 2025 and December 2024, Attorney General James secured settlements stopping anticompetitive no-poach agreements in the building services industry. In May 2024, Attorney General James joined 40 other states and the Department of Justice in suing Live Nation and Ticketmaster for monopolizing the live music industry.

    New York’s investigation has been led by Assistant Attorneys General Bob Hubbard, Saami Zain, and Ben Cole, and Legal Assistant Arlene Leventhal of the Antitrust Bureau, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Amy McFarlane and Bureau Chief Elinor Hoffmann of the Antitrust Bureau. The Antitrust Bureau is part of the Division for Economic Justice, overseen by Chief Deputy Attorney General Christopher D’Angelo and First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint for $47 Million in Proceeds from the Sale of 1 Million Barrels of Iranian Oil

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    A civil forfeiture complaint was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that $47 million in proceeds from the sale of nearly one million barrels of Iranian petroleum is forfeitable as property of, or affording a person a source of influence over, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or its Qods Force (IRGC-QF), designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).

    The forfeiture complaint alleges a scheme between 2022 and 2024 to facilitate the shipment, storage, and sale of Iranian petroleum product for the benefit of the IRGC and IRGC-QF. The facilitators used deceptive practices to masquerade the Iranian oil as Malaysian, including by manipulating the tanker’s automatic identification system (AIS) to conceal that it onboarded the oil from a port in Iran. The facilitators presented falsified documents to the Croatian storage and port facility, claiming that the oil was Malaysian. The facilitators paid for storage fees associated with the oil’s storage in Croatia in U.S. dollars, transactions that were conducted through U.S. financial institutions that would have refused the transactions had they known they were associated with Iranian oil. The petroleum product was sold in 2024, and the United States seized $47 million in proceeds from that sale.

    The civil forfeiture complaint further alleges that the petroleum product constitutes the property of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), which has perpetuated a federal crime of terrorism by providing material support to the IRGC and IRGC-QF. As alleged, profits from petroleum product sales support the IRGC’s full range of malign activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and both domestic and international human rights abuses.

    Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund.

    FBI Minneapolis Field Office and Homeland Security Investigations New York are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert, Maeghan O. Mikorski, and Brian Hudak for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Adam Small of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are litigating the case. They received assistance from former Paralegal Specialist Brian Rickers and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

    A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: TransAlta Corporation Enters into Automatic Share Purchase Plan

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TransAlta Corporation (“TransAlta” or the “Company”) (TSX: TA) (NYSE: TAC) announced today that it has entered into an automatic share purchase plan (“ASPP”) with its broker in order to facilitate repurchases of TransAlta’s common shares (“Common Shares”) under the Company’s previously announced normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”).

    The Company previously announced that it had received approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) to purchase up to 14,000,000 of its Common Shares during the 12-month period that commenced May 31, 2024, and terminates May 30, 2025. Purchases under the NCIB may be made through open market transactions on the TSX and any alternative Canadian trading systems on which the Common Shares are traded, based on the prevailing market price. Since the beginning of the current NCIB on May 31, 2024, the Company has purchased 6,102,300 at a weighted average price per Common Share of $11.89 for an aggregate value of approximately $72.5 million.

    The Company believes that the prevailing price for the Common Shares may not, from time to time, reflect the underlying value of the Common Shares and that the purchase of Common Shares pursuant to the NCIB may be an attractive and appropriate use of available funds relative to other alternatives. The ASPP will facilitate purchases under the NCIB as it will allow for purchases of Common Shares to be made at times when the Company would ordinarily not be permitted to make purchases, whether due to regulatory restriction or customary self-imposed blackout periods. TransAlta is committed to enhancing shareholder returns through appropriate capital allocation such as a share buyback and its quarterly dividend, which are underpinned by the Company’s strong free cash flow position.

    Under the ASPP, the Company’s broker may purchase Common Shares from the effective date of the ASPP until the end of the NCIB. The ASPP will facilitate purchases of Common Shares under the NCIB by authorizing the Company’s broker to make purchases at its sole discretion based on parameters set by the Company in accordance with TSX rules, applicable law and the terms of the ASPP. Outside of periods that the Company is restricted from purchasing Common Shares pursuant to insider trading rules or its own internal trading blackout policies, Common Shares may also be purchased based on management’s discretion, in compliance with TSX rules and applicable law.

    All purchases of Common Shares made under the ASPP will be included in determining the number of Common Shares purchased under the NCIB. Any Common Shares purchased by the Company pursuant to the NCIB will be cancelled. The Company is not currently in possession of any material undisclosed information in relation to the Company.  The ASPP has been pre-cleared by the TSX and will be effective on April 1, 2025.   

    The ASPP will terminate on the earliest of the date on which: (a) the maximum purchase limits under the ASPP are reached; (b) May 8, 2025; or (c) the Company terminates the ASPP in accordance with its terms.

    About TransAlta Corporation:

    TransAlta owns, operates and develops a diverse fleet of electrical power generation assets in Canada, the United States and Australia with a focus on long-term shareholder value. TransAlta provides municipalities, medium and large industries, businesses and utility customers with affordable, energy efficient and reliable power. Today, TransAlta is one of Canada’s largest producers of wind power and Alberta’s largest producer of thermal generation and hydro-electric power. For over 113 years, TransAlta has been a responsible operator and a proud member of the communities where we operate and where our employees work and live. TransAlta aligns its corporate goals with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Future-Fit Business Benchmark, which also defines sustainable goals for businesses. Our reporting on climate change management has been guided by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S2 Climate-related Disclosures Standard and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations. TransAlta has achieved a 66 per cent reduction in GHG emissions or 21.3 million tonnes CO2e since 2015 and received an upgraded MSCI ESG rating of AA.

    For more information about TransAlta, visit its website at transalta.com.

    Note: All financial figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

    For more information:

    Investor Inquiries: Media Inquiries:
    Phone: 1-800-387-3598 in Canada and U.S. Phone: 1-855-255-9184
    Email: investor_relations@transalta.com Email: ta_media_relations@transalta.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Motsoaledi urges global action to address health funding gaps

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has reiterated the importance of nations reallocating resources towards health, strengthening global health partnerships, and exploring innovative financing mechanisms to address funding gaps.

    The Minister was delivering the keynote address at the second meeting of the G20 Health Working Group today in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal.

    The Minister used the platform to highlight South Africa’s commitment to universal health coverage (UHC) through the National Health Insurance (NHI) system, which aims to provide financial protection and efficient resource utilisation.

    “In South Africa, we are actively pursuing transformation to achieve universal health coverage through our NHI system.

    “The NHI is designed to provide financial protection for all, ensuring that access to quality healthcare is not dependent on one’s ability to pay [for] it, and it will also assist in the efficient utilisation of our resources by pulling funds and strategically purchasing services.”

    Motsoaledi cited data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which indicate that the number of people shielded from catastrophic health spending had been steadily increasing before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, since then, about 100 million people have fallen back into financial hardship due to health-related expenses.

    Motsoaledi believes that the NHI is a concrete demonstration of government’s commitment to leaving no one behind, and fostering and strengthening the resilience of the health system.

    The Minister quoted the late Harvard Department of Anthropology’s Professor Paul Farmer on the value of all lives and urged G20 members to increase public financing of health systems as a fundamental investment.

    “I want to quote the idea that ‘some lives matter less’ is the root of all that is wrong with the world.

    “We implore all G20 members to champion increased public financing of health systems.

    “This is not merely a budgetary issue; it’s a fundamental investment in our collective future.”

    Motsoaledi urged attendees to prioritise public health over competing interests, ensuring that adequate resources are allocated to meet the health needs of the nation’s populations.

    “Furthermore, we must all align our efforts beyond financing. We must address the persistent health inequities that plague our world.”

    Non-communicable diseases

    Motsoaledi highlighted the importance of addressing health inequities, particularly in low and middle-income countries, and the need for multilateral approaches to prevent and control non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

    He said the upcoming United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs is seen as a crucial opportunity to galvanise global action against chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.

    “We must alleviate the financial burden, restrict unhealthy food marketing, finance emergency health services, and accelerate cervical cancer elimination, the only cancer which is preventable.”

    The theme of the three-day meeting is: “Accelerating Health Equity, Solidarity, and Universal Coverage”.

    Along with this meeting, a co-sponsored event focused on eliminating cervical cancer, is also taking place.

    “We must move beyond dialogue and commit to concrete steps. South Africa is committed to collaborating with all the G20 members to achieve our shared goals. 

    “Let us work together to ensure that health remains a priority, not a commodity, especially during these unstable economic times,” Motsoaledi added.

    South Africa, which assumed the G20 Presidency in December, is currently hosting various working groups and ministerial meetings throughout the country. 

    These meetings are focused on key topics such as health, employment, trade, tourism, and the digital economy — all in preparation for the G20 Leaders’ Summit scheduled for November this year.

    The G20 comprises 19 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and the United States. It also includes two regional bodies – the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU). – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Attendance rates rising but not good enough

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says this Government has prioritised student attendance and as a result we’ve seen every term in 2024 record higher attendance than in 2023.

    In Term 4 of 2024 58.1 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.1 percentage points from 53 per cent in Term 4 of 2023. Attendance rates across all equity index groups increased from 2023 to 2024.

    “Every region has recorded an increase in attendance. I would like to give a special shoutout to North and West Auckland and South and South-West Auckland for recording the biggest improvements, of 6.6 per cent each,” says Mr Seymour

    “While there’s more work to be done, these numbers are another step in the right direction to achieving the Government’s goal of ensuring 80 per cent of students are present more than 90 per cent of the term by 2030.  

    “I’m encouraged to see attendance rates continuing to increase steadily for all students, including those facing the most socio-economic barriers.   

    “Attending school is the first step towards achieving positive educational outcomes. Positive educational outcomes lead to better health, higher incomes, better job stability and greater participation within communities. These are opportunities that every student deserves. 

    “This trend must continue as schools begin investigating reasons for absence and supporting students back to school, as outlined in the Stepped Attendance Response (STAR).  

    “Schools will be required to do this from Term 1, 2026, although schools who don’t already follow a similar approach are encouraged to start earlier, and the Ministry has support in place.  

    “We are focussed on improving educational outcomes for all Kiwi children. No matter someone’s socio-economic background, location, or ethnicity, getting your children to school is the best thing you can do to ensure they have a bright future.” 

    Attendance data can be found here Attendance | Education Counts  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Despite Diplomatic Progress, Security Council Told Continuing Attacks, Funding Cuts Worsening Humanitarian Situation in Ukraine

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is worsening, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, as she both welcomed diplomatic progress and expressed deep alarm over rising attacks on civilians and severe cuts to global humanitarian funding.

    “Since 1 March, not a day has passed without an attack harming civilians,” Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, told the 15-member Council. The regions of Sumy, Odesa, Dnipro, Donetsk and Kharkiv have been hit especially hard in recent weeks, with extensive damage to homes, shops, warehouses and vehicles.

    Meanwhile, global funding cuts for humanitarian operations — including for Ukraine — are further reducing the UN’s capacity to provide life-saving aid.  While the announcement of a ceasefire on energy infrastructure and discussions regarding safe navigation in the Black Sea are positive steps, she noted that the impact of past attacks continue to undermine civilians’ access to electricity, gas, heating and water as the harsh winter persists.

    “We are deeply concerned by the human cost of continued fighting,” she said, noting that, as of 24 February 2022, at least 12,881 civilians — including 681 children — have been killed in Ukraine.  The true toll is likely much higher.  She reiterated that the protection of infrastructure critical to civilian survival is imperative, and that indiscriminate attacks are unequivocally prohibited under international law.

    And with almost 13 million people in Ukraine in need of humanitarian aid, she warned against funding cuts that could threaten vital services — including gender-based-violence support and safe spaces for 640,000 affected women and girls.  Thus far, only 17 per cent of the $2.6 billion needed for Ukraine’s 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan has been received.  Against that backdrop, she urged the international community to enforce compliance with international law, secure funding to save lives and push for an end to the war — all while ensuring that humanitarian needs remain central to peace talks.

    Speakers Express Concern over Increasing Attacks on Civilians, Urge Moscow to Demonstrate Commitment to Peace

    During the discussion that ensued, many speakers expressed concern over growing attacks on civilians in Ukraine.  “The death and destruction caused by this war are tremendous,” said Slovenia’s delegate, noting the over 42,000 verified casualties and reconstruction costs exceeding $500 billion.  Three years on, and the fighting does not seem to be diminishing — in February 2025, civilian casualties increased by 35 per cent compared to February 2024.  “Every human life matters and is not merely a number,” added Pakistan’s delegate, welcoming deals reached between Ukraine and the Russian Federation banning the targeting of energy sites and ensuring safe navigation in the Black Sea.

    While also noting progress on those fronts, other speakers continued to call on the Russian Federation to demonstrate its commitment to peace, with France’s delegate highlighting “the gaping disconnect between [the Russian Federation’s] actions and words”.  Romania’s delegate pointed out that “the dialogue efforts and the proposals in the last weeks are yet to be met by deeds”, spotlighting new attacks by the Russian Federation since the night of 21 March.

    “It is now for Russia to show its willingness to achieve peace,” said the representative of the European Union, in its capacity as observer, adding:  “There can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine, and no negotiations that affect European security without Europe.”  Finland’s delegate, speaking also for Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, echoed that, also expressing concern that limited humanitarian access makes it hard for humanitarian workers to deliver life-saving aid — especially in front-line areas.

    “A ceasefire seems not to be enough,” observed Greece’s delegate, adding that peace should only be possible “with credible and robust security guarantees, which will deter and prevent the recurrence of war in the future”.  Any peace must be more than a mere pause that allows the aggressor to rearm and strike again — as it has done before — Poland’s delegate underscored.  “We must have enduring peace in Ukraine,” stressed the representative of the United Kingdom, adding that, until Moscow’s forces withdraw from Ukraine, “the United Kingdom will continue to work with Kyiv to achieve a just and lasting peace”.

    Meanwhile, the representative of the Republic of Korea said that interviews with soldiers from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea captured in Kursk show men deceived and told they were being sent to Moscow for training.  “Pyongyang must stop sacrificing its own people to sustain the regime in exchange for military, political and economic support from Moscow,” he stressed.

    The representative of Denmark, Council President for March, spoke in her national capacity to describe the latest report by the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine as a “grim catalogue of crimes against humanity” perpetrated by the Russian Federation’s forces against civilians.  Lithuania’s delegate, also speaking for Estonia and Latvia, drew attention to the 4,000 cases against the Russian Federation in the European Court of Human Rights, all related to events in Crimea, Donbas and the wider war against Ukraine.

    Russian Federation, Ukraine Acknowledge Limited Ceasefire Agreements while Expressing Reservations

    For his part, the representative of the Russian Federation said that the European Union and the United Kingdom are trying to thwart efforts by his country and the United States to settle the Ukrainian crisis.  He went on to say that Moscow’s air forces target only military sites, and that civilian casualties in Ukraine occur because Kyiv stores ammunition in residential areas.  He also stated that Ukraine’s European supporters ignore the crimes committed by Kyiv, reiterating that Moscow’s military operation started three years ago to end the war being waged on fellow Russians.

    Regarding the agreement concerning the Black Sea, he said that this will go into effect only after a series of measures are adopted — including the lifting of sanctions against some Russian Federation banks.  And while agreement has been reached to ban strikes on energy sites both in Ukraine and in the Russian Federation, Kyiv continues to violate that agreement.  “The Russian Federation reserves the right to respond should the Kyiv regime continue on this destructive course,” he emphasized.

    Further, he asked those present if they would prefer to either continue providing weapons to “private-military-company Ukraine”, or to join the Russian Federation and the United States to “find a long-term solution that would address the root causes of the Ukraine crisis and strengthen security in Europe and the world over”.

    “Moscow speaks of peace while launching brutal strikes almost daily on densely populated residential areas” in her country, Ukraine’s delegate said, adding that the Russian Federation launched — in the first half of March alone — hundreds of strikes against her people, using approximately 2,800 guided aerial bombs, nearly 2,000 attack drones and over 100 missiles of various types.  Moscow has also sought to block Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, forcibly transferred Ukrainian children to its territory and that of Belarus, and made use of munitions containing hazardous chemicals.

    While welcoming the United States’ mediation and Saudi Arabia’s hospitality, and reaffirming her country’s commitment to peace, she underscored:  “We won’t accept peace at any price.”  Ukraine will not recognize any of its temporarily occupied territories as belonging to the Russian Federation, and Kyiv will not agree to any foreign diktat regarding the structure or other characteristics of its defence forces.

    While Ukraine has agreed to a ceasefire regarding energy facilities and in the Black Sea, she warned that this does not extend to Russian Federation warships that enter Ukraine’s territorial waters.  “Everyone should focus on Russian actions, not their statements,” she urged, noting that the coming days will be critical in determining “whether Russia is serious about peace or intends to deceive the United States and the world”.

    Nevertheless, Speakers Point to Path towards Peace

    “The war must end now,” the representative of the United States stressed, as she commended both the Russian Federation and Ukraine for taking the first steps towards a ceasefire.  If fully implemented, the agreements concerning energy infrastructure and the Black Sea will open a path towards peace.  “We call on both sides to abide by these agreements and expand on them,” she said.

    Some speakers expressed optimism about the talks under way in Riyadh.  “A window of peace is opening,” said China’s delegate, welcoming recent negotiations that the Russian Federation and Ukraine have had bilaterally with the United States.  Positive progress was made on numerous issues, he said.  Algeria’s delegate, welcoming progress, as well, added that a lasting peace must consider the legitimate concerns of both parties.  The representative of Panama, noting that maritime security is fundamental to his country, expressed optimism about the steps towards a cessation of hostilities in the Black Sea.

    Similarly, the representative of Somalia said that the agreement to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea represents a practical step towards reducing tensions and protecting vital economic infrastructure.  The recent breakthrough is “creating tangible momentum towards de-escalation”, he said.  “Even as we celebrate the modest breakthroughs,” Guyana’s delegate warned that the slightest misstep could doom millions of civilians to even more bombardment and displacement.  Sierra Leone’s representative observed that “cautious hope has begun to emerge”, but highlighted the severe impact already had on children — trauma from constant shelling, loss of loved ones, displacement and abduction.

    “Even when bombings subside, the scars of war remain,” said the Permanent Observer for the Sovereign Order of Malta, pointing to the need for psychological support for those affected by war-related trauma.  Ukraine’s health system will need restoring, he said, adding that it is also crucial to facilitate the safe and dignified return of displaced families.  “The land must be restored and made habitable,” he added, as the detritus of war is cleared away.

    Quoting Pope Francis, he asked those present:  “Can we get out of this spiral of sorrow and death?  Can we once more walk and live in the ways of peace?  I would like for each one of us — from the least to the greatest, including those who are called to govern nations — to respond in one voice: ‘Yes, we want peace.’”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Testing new ways to monitor biodiversity in seawater on RSV Nuyina

    Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

    Scientists on an Australian Antarctic Program voyage to the Denman Glacier region in East Antarctica are trialling new ways to understand biodiversity, without the need to disturb marine creatures.
    On board Australia’s icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, Australian Antarctic Division geneticist Dr Leonie Suter is collecting environmental DNA (eDNA) from seawater samples during the Denman Marine Voyage, to build a picture of the biodiversity in the region.

    eDNA is DNA shed by all organisms into the environment, allowing scientists to identify what organisms were in the water around the time a sample was taken.
    “If we take a small seawater sample, we can filter that and then sequence the DNA to tell us what’s living there,” Dr Suter said.
    “It’s a way to do a biodiversity survey from just a small water sample, without ever having seen any of the animals. We can infer what’s living there from the genetic traces that are left behind, and we can do that from surface water, but also throughout the water column all the way down to the seafloor.”
    During the two-month voyage Dr Suter is collecting five-litre surface water samples, three times a day, through the ship’s seawater line. She is also collecting water samples from different depths using RSV Nuyina’s Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) instrument.
    “The surface and CTD samples will give us a three dimensional picture of biodiversity,” Dr Suter said.
    “And if we do this sampling repeatedly, as part of a long-term monitoring program, we can look at whether biodiversity is changing over time, and which ocean variables are influencing community compositions.”
    Key to this long-term monitoring program could be some new technology Dr Suter is trialling during the voyage, in collaboration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in California.
    “We have two automated eDNA samplers that will plug in to the seawater line and automatically filter the water at pre-determined times throughout the voyage,” Dr Suter said.
    “Later we’ll compare the results from the manual and automated systems to see if we can use the automated system on future voyages.”
    Dr Jim Birch, Director of the SURF Center at MBARI, said the Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) and the Filtering Instrument for DNA Observations (FIDO) could collect 60 and 144 water samples, respectively.
    “Both instruments filter water and preserve whatever is on the filter in a way that allows the sample to sit unrefrigerated for two to four months,” Dr Birch said.
    “You can schedule the instrument sampling times on a phone or computer and they’re very simple to operate.”
    The ESP has been used on ships, “autonomous surface craft”, and elsewhere in the northern hemisphere. However, this is the first time FIDO has been deployed in the field, and the first time for both instruments in the southern hemisphere.
    “This is an engineering test for us – will these devices work autonomously over 10 weeks with very little human interaction?” Dr Birch said.
    “We’re really excited to see how they perform.”
    Dr Suter said she is ready to “expect the unexpected”.
    “There are a lot of unknowns on this voyage,” she said.
    “But these tools will help us learn more about the baseline diversity and describe the environments that we’re encountering in the different regions of the Southern Ocean.”
    Dr Suter is one of 60 scientists on board RSV Nuyina, spending two months using the ship’s marine science capabilities to investigate critical climate questions about the glacier’s accelerated melt rate, factors influencing it, and the regional and global impacts.
    Learn more in our digital feature Nudging a sleeping giant.
    The Denman Marine Voyage is a collaboration between the Australian Antarctic Division, the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS), the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP) and Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF).
    This content was last updated 3 minutes ago on 27 March 2025.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Do you feel £1,400 better off every year since 2014?

    Source: Scottish National Party

    In the 2014 independence referendum Westminster politicians said “every Scot will be £1,400 better off every year” if people voted ‘No’.

    It’s therefore painfully ironic that, just a decade later, people in Scotland see headlines saying “UK families to be ‘£1,400-a-year poorer by 2030’.”

    New analysis by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) – using forecast models from the Bank of England – shows that the austerity policies of Keir Starmer’s government will leave people worse off in the next five years.

    The JRF also said that if living standards haven’t improved by 2030, Labour will not only have failed to meet their own election pledge but will have become the first government in nearly 75 years to have seen a fall in living standards across a full parliament.

    They concluded that the worse effects of these policies will fall on the poorest third of the population.

    The pledge that “every Scot will be £1,400 better off every year” is not only looking threadbare, it’s been ripped into rags by the very people who promised it.

    And, this is no joke, the same Westminster politicians seriously argued that this £1,400 meant people would be able to enjoy ‘scoffing 280 hot dogs’ or drinking ’636 cappuccinos’. Instead we’ve seen food banks rise year on year.

    But those aren’t the only promises Westminster politicians made to persuade people to vote ‘No’.

    In the run-up to the 2014 referendum people were also promised “lower shopping bills” and that Westminster would “keep energy costs down for families in Scotland“.

    Better Together on X: “Lower shopping bills than if we left the United Kingdom say supermarkets. Read more: http://t.co/hcmC81lu9q #indyref http://t.co/MmDmHF6nrt” / X

    Better Together on X: “Being part of the UK keeps energy costs down for families in Scotland http://t.co/VkNwzmQ4kq #indyref” / X

    They highlighted Gordon Brown urging people in Scotland to vote ‘No’ “to create a more socially just country“; and that a Westminster-run social security system “offers better protection for pensioners, disabled and the unemployed“.

    Better Together on X: “Gordon Brown urges people in Scotland to stay in the UK to create a more socially just country http://t.co/0s9ZggfkZN #indyref” / X

    Better Together on X: “Gordon Brown in Dundee: “Our UK welfare state offers better protection for pensioners, disabled and the unemployed.” http://t.co/AYzvqu9EBH” / X

    With Scots facing yet more energy bill increases – despite Labour promises to cut them by £300 – and Keir Starmer’s government cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners and support for the disabled.

    This situation not only makes a bad joke of the Westminster politicians’ promises in the 2014 independence referendum, but it also exposes the duplicity of Labour’s promise of “Change”.

    Even before the 2024 election the signs of the direction of the UK were obvious.

    Reports revealed that UK workers were missing out on over £10,000 a year, with living standards falling behind other G7 nations, as well as Australia and the Netherlands.

    Other analysis showed that, compared to neighbouring countries in north west Europe, the UK in the 21st century has had the least wealth per person, the most poverty, and the greatest gap between rich and poor. It also shows that countries similar in size or smaller than Scotland are wealthier and more equal than the north west European average.

    But it could be so much different, and better, for Scotland.

    With a huge offshore energy potential, a food and drink sector worth billions and one of the best educated populations in Europe and can even be asked: Why is Scotland in a UK trailing its neighbours so badly?

    The reason is that those countries don’t have government from Westminster obsessed with cutting public spending again and again.

    Those other countries get government’s they voted for with policies they want, and the results can be seen in how they are wealthier, fairer and happier than the UK.

    Despite the ‘No’ campaigns 2014 promises, Westminster isn’t working for Scotland, but independence works for those countries.

    So why shouldn’t it work for Scotland too?

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Human Rights Committee Adopts Annual Report 2024-2025

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Human Rights Committee this morning adopted its annual report on the work of its one hundred and forty-first (1-23 July 2024), one hundred and forty-second (14 October-7 November 2024), and one hundred and forty-third sessions (3-28 March 2025). 

    Introducing the report, Ivan Šimonović, Committee Rapporteur, said that as of 26 March 2025, 174 States were parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 116 States were parties to the Optional Protocol to the Covenant on individual communications, and 92 States were parties to the Second Optional Protocol, on the abolition of the death penalty.  Côte d’Ivoire and Zambia had acceded to the Second Optional Protocol in May and December 2024 respectively. 

    Country report task forces met during the three sessions to consider and adopt lists of issues on the reports of Chad and Latvia and lists of issues prior to reporting for Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Barbados, Benin, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, the Dominican Republic, Jordan, Mauritius, Monaco, New Zealand, Poland, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and South Africa.

    At its one hundred and forty-first session, the Committee adopted concluding observations on Croatia, Honduras, India, Maldives, Malta, Suriname and the Syrian Arab Republic.  At its one hundred and forty-second session, the Committee adopted concluding observations on Ecuador, France, Greece, Iceland, Pakistan and Türkiye.  At its one hundred and forty-third session, the Committee would adopt concluding observations on Albania, Burkina Faso, Mongolia, Montenegro and Zimbabwe.  The review of Haiti had been postponed to the Committee’s next session, due to the human rights situation in the country. 

    During the one hundred and forty-first session, the Special Rapporteur for follow-up on concluding observations submitted interim reports to the Committee.  During that session, the Committee reviewed the following States parties under the follow-up process: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Liberia, and Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

    Regarding communications, at its one hundred and forty-first session, the Committee examined 21 drafts concerning 63 communications: 53 communications were decided on the merits, 10 were declared inadmissible and 32 were closed. Regarding communications decided on the merits, the Committee found violations in 51 of them.  At its one hundred and forty-second session, the Committee examined 19 drafts concerning 308 communications: 287 were decided on the merits, 10 were declared inadmissible and 11 were closed.  With regard to the communications for which a decision was taken on the merits, the Committee found violations in 287 of them. At its one hundred and forty-third session, the Committee examined 19 drafts concerning 66 communications: 38 were decided on the merits, five were declared inadmissible and 23 were closed. The Committee found violations in 37 of the communications for which decisions were taken on the merits.  The Committee had successfully started applying its multifaceted strategy aimed at ending the high number of communications pending consideration and adoption.  Mr. Šimonović reiterated the Committee’s concern regarding the lack of resources and emphasised the importance of allocating adequate staff resources to service its sessions. 

    Following the presentation, various Committee experts took the floor, thanking the Rapporteur for his work on the report.  A speaker said that the Committee’s follow-up procedure allowed the Committee to remain in a dialogue with States parties on the implementation of the Covenant. States parties that had been under the Committee’s review were invited to submit their follow-up information and continue the dialogue.  The liquidity crisis was challenging, a speaker noted, and the Committee was approaching a point where it would be difficult to continue the high quality of their work without the required resources.  The Committee was sometimes the last beacon of hope for persons from countries to obtain legal redress outside their own legal system.  The report was worth being shared more broadly and could be further developed and enhanced, another speaker said. 

    The Committee then adopted the annual report, before closing the meeting.

    The Human Rights Committee’s one hundred and forty-third session is being held from 3 to 28 March 2025.  All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 11 a.m. on Friday 28 March to close its one hundred and forty-third session.

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CCPR25.007E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: QCI’s Andrew Cardno to Speak on “The Next Era of Tribal Gaming: The 7 Forces Shaping Its Future” at the Indian Gaming Association Trade Show

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) is pleased to announce that Andrew Cardno, Chief Technology Officer of QCI, will be delivering a featured session at the 2025 Indian Gaming Trade Show & Convention in San Diego, CA. The session, titled “The Seven Forces Transforming Our Industry (Whether We Like It or Not),” will take place on April 1, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

    Tribal gaming stands at the forefront of an unprecedented era of transformation. Both internal dynamics and external pressures are driving change at a pace never seen before. In this timely session, Mr. Cardno will provide an in-depth exploration of seven powerful forces reshaping the future of tribal gaming. From the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics to shifting consumer expectations and evolving market forces, attendees will gain valuable insights into the technologies and trends defining the next era of the industry.

    “Tribal gaming has always been a leader in innovation, but the convergence of AI, robotics, and rapid technological advancement presents new challenges and exciting opportunities,” said Andrew Cardno, CTO of QCI. “This session is about equipping tribal operators with the knowledge and tools to embrace these changes while protecting the core traditions that make tribal gaming unique. By understanding these forces, we can ensure that team members are empowered, operations are optimized, and tribal enterprises continue to thrive.”

    Victor Rocha, Conference Chairman of the Indian Gaming Trade Show & Convention, added, “We are excited to feature Andrew Cardno in this important session. Tribal gaming is facing a critical moment, and understanding these seven forces is essential for our industry’s future. This conversation goes beyond technology — it’s about how we protect our sovereignty, strengthen our communities, and continue leading the gaming industry into the future.”

    Attendees will leave with practical strategies to integrate emerging technologies in ways that reinforce the unique strengths of tribal gaming enterprises. The session will focus on how these tools can enhance operational efficiency, improve customer experiences, and create new opportunities for team member growth — all while honoring the cultural and economic significance of tribal gaming.

    ABOUT The 2025 Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention
    As the premier events for the tribal gaming community, the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention and Mid-Year Conference & Expo deliver the insight and strategies you need to rise to the top of the competitive gaming industry landscape. There’s no better opportunity to meet industry leaders, access cutting-edge trends and celebrate a proud tradition of success. For more information visit: www.indiangamingtradeshow.com.

    ABOUT QCI
    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI Enterprise Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 250 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and Europe. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $35 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI’s data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, and Tulsa. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

    ABOUT Andrew Cardno
    Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master’s level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew’s innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today’s mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications. Across various industries—be it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSD—Andrew’s impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring eight influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew’s work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

    ABOUT Victor Rocha
    Victor Rocha holds the distinguished position of Conference Chairman for the Indian Gaming Association, while also leading Victor-Strategies as its president. As the owner and publisher of Pechanga.net, he has been deeply engaged in the political landscape of U.S. tribal gaming since 1998. Rocha’s outstanding contributions to the industry have been recognized through numerous accolades, such as AGEM’s 2023 Peter Mead Memorial Award Honoring Excellence in Gaming Media & Communication, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s 2015 Tribal Gaming Visionary Award, the American Gaming Association’s 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award for Gaming Communications, Raving’s 2012 Casino Marketing Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Indian Gaming Association’s 2002 Outstanding Contribution to Indian Country, VCAT’s 2001 Catalyst Award, and Global Gaming Business Magazine’s 2000 “40 Under 40” list.

    Contact:
    Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence
    Phone: 858-349-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks to the Virtual High-Level Segment of the 16th Petersberg Climate Dialogue [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations – English

    hank you for this opportunity — and for your focus today on collective climate action and acceleration of implementation. 

    This could not be more timely. 

    There is much uncertainty and instability in our world.

    But today we meet in the wake of some good news.

    Just this morning, the International Renewable Energy Agency officially confirmed that 2024 was a record year for renewables additions to global power capacity. 

    Renewables represented more than 92 per cent of all new electricity generation capacity installed last year.
     
    The amount of renewables added represents more than the total electricity capacity of Brazil and Japan combined.

    Europe’s capacity grew by 9 per cent – with Germany contributing more than one-quarter of that growth. Africa’s capacity grew by almost 7 per cent.

    All of this is another reminder of a 21st century truth:

    Renewables are renewing economies. 

    They are powering growth, creating jobs, lowering energy bills, and cleaning our air. 
     
    And every day, they become an even smarter investment. 

    Since 2010, the average cost of wind power has plunged 60%.  Solar is 90% cheaper. 

    In 2023, clean energy sectors accounted for five per cent of economic growth in India and six in the US. It accounted for a fifth of China’s GDP growth, and a third of the EU’s.

    The economic case for – and opportunities of – climate action have become ever clearer – particularly for those who choose to lead. 

    And leadership is what we need – as today’s IRENA report shows:

    To accelerate the shift to renewables…

    And to correct the imbalances in the transition, which is still starving developing countries – outside China – of the investment needed to fully embrace clean energy. 

    Excellencies, dear friends,

    As the title of this session puts it so well: we are indeed at a turning point to the future.

    In the ten years since Paris, we have seen other important progress.

    Ninety percent of global emissions are now covered by net-zero targets. 

    A decade ago, the planet was on course for a global temperature rise of over four degrees Celsius.

    Today, countries’ national climate plans – or NDCs – if fully delivered – will take us closer to a 2.6-degree rise.

    At the same time, climate challenges are piling up.  

    It seems records are shattered at every turn — the hottest day of the hottest month of the hottest year of the hottest decade ever. 

    All of this is hitting the vulnerable hardest, and everyday people in their pockets – with higher living costs, higher insurance premiums, and higher food prices.

    Just last week, the World Meteorological Organization confirmed that 2024 was another alarming year:

    Almost every climate indicator reached new and increasingly dangerous heights – inflaming displacement and food insecurity and inflicting huge economic losses.

    And, for the first time, the annual global temperature was 1.5 degrees Celsius hotter than pre-industrial times.

    Scientists are clear – it is still possible to meet the long-term 1.5 degree limit.

    But it requires urgent action. And it requires leadership.

    Excellencies, dear friends,

    I see two critical fronts to drive action. 

    First, new national climate plans – or NDCs – due by September.

    Investors need certainty and predictability.

    These new plans are a unique opportunity to deliver – and lay out a coherent vision for a just green transition.

    They must align with the 1.5-degree limit, as agreed at COP28. And cover all emissions and the whole economy.

    Together, they must reduce global emissions 60% by 2035 – compared to 2019…

    And contribute to the COP28 global energy transition goals.

    All this must be achieved in line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of national circumstances but everybody, everybody must do more.

    The G20 – the largest emitters and economies – must lead.

    Every country must step up and play their part.

    The United Nations is with you all.

    President Lula and I are working to secure the highest ambition from the largest economies.

    The United Nations Climate Promise is supporting a hundred countries to prepare their new climate plans.

    And we will convene a special event in September to take stock of the plans of all countries, push for action to keep 1.5 within reach, and deliver climate justice.

    Second, we must drive finance to developing countries.

    The COP29 finance agreement must be implemented in full.

    I count on the leadership of the COP29 and COP30 Presidencies to deliver a credible roadmap to mobilize $1.3 trillion a year by 2035.

    We need new and innovative sources of financing, and credible carbon pricing.

    Developed countries must honour their promise to double adaptation finance to at least $40 billion a year, by this year.

    And we need serious contributions to the fund for responding to Loss and Damage, and to get it up and running.
    Excellencies,

    We can only meet these goals with stronger collaboration – between governments, and across society and sectors.

    Those that will lag behind need to be not a reason for us to be discouraged but an increase in our commitment to move forward.

    The rewards are there for the taking, for all those ready and willing to lead the world through these troubled times.

    We are at a turning point.  I urge you to seize this moment; and seize the prize.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks to the Informal Interactive Dialogue on the Implementation of the Pact for the Future [bilingual, as delivered; scroll down for all-English version]

    Source: United Nations – English

    r. President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    I thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this important dialogue — the first of three in the coming months. 

    From day one of the Pact for the Future’s adoption, the President has been its active champion.

    I deeply appreciate your efforts, Mr. President, and your leadership.

    Excellencies,

    Adopting the Pact was the beginning of the process, not the end. 

    Today I want to focus on what we have done over the last six months — and what we need to do.

    We face a long list of challenges.  

    Conflicts and climate disasters are intensifying.  

    The Sustainable Development Goals are far off-track — as is the funding required to achieve them.

    Geopolitical divisions and mistrust are blocking effective action, with some actively questioning the value of international cooperation and the multilateral system itself.

    But let me be very clear.  It is exactly because of these divides and these mistrusts that the Pact for the Future and the two parallel documents are more important than ever.  And the bigger the obstacle, the bigger will be my determination to make things move forward in line with the will expressed by Member States in the Summit of the Future.

    Meanwhile, critical funding is being drastically cut for people in desperate need — with more reductions to come.

    Resources are shrinking across the board — and they have been for a long time. 

    From day one of my mandate, we embarked on an ambitious agenda to become more effective and cost-effective across our organization.

    Earlier this month, I announced the “UN80” initiative to continue this work and intensify it.

    We’re reviewing efficiencies and improvements to current arrangements, the implementation of mandates handed down by Member States, and structural changes and programme realignment.

    All these will contribute for a more effective implementation of the Pact for the Future.

    Excellencies,

    We’ve wasted no time moving into the implementation phase of the Pact.

    From an operational perspective, we established a principal-level steering committee — which I chair — overseeing six working groups focused on action and reforms in key areas:

    Sustainable Development Goals acceleration…peace and security… international financial architecture…digital technologies…UN governance…and youth.

    We’ve created two task teams focusing on future generations and the need to look beyond GDP as a measure of progress and guide to policy-making. 

    And we’re establishing an internal tracking system to monitor our progress on Pact implementation.

    Today, I’d like to report on our efforts since the Pact was adopted, and outline the work ahead in four areas.

    First — peace and security.

    United Nations peace operations help safeguard people and communities in some of the most desperate corners of the world. 

    The Pact represents a commitment to strengthen tools to prevent and address conflict, to ensure that our peace efforts respond to new and emerging threats.

    In November, I issued a report on peacebuilding which included concrete suggestions to strengthen the Peacebuilding Commission and Fund. 

    We’re actively working on the second independent progress study on the positive contribution of young people to peace processes.  

    And we’re progressing on a review of all forms of Peace Operations — as requested in the Pact. 

    Our recent proposals to the Security Council regarding Haiti are a case in point where new approaches can be developed to complex security challenges.

    The review will be an opportunity to help adapt peace operations to today’s realities, and ensure they’re guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

    It will also recognize the limitations of our operations where there is little or no peace to keep.

    We will also continue pushing forward on other peace-related priorities of the Pact — including disarmament commitments around nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, lethal autonomous weapons and the growing weaponization of outer space.

    And we will continue advocating — including through the intergovernmental negotiations process — for the Pact’s call to make the Security Council more representative of today’s world and more effective in the capacity to promote peace in the world.

    Second — finance for development.

    Since the Pact’s adoption, we’ve taken action on several fronts.

    For example, our Resident Coordinators and Country Teams are now mapping out how we can accelerate progress at the national levels in close cooperation with the Governments.

    We’ve begun analyzing the impact of military expenditure on the achievement of the SDGs and on our own work at the UN — with a final report out by September.

    The Expert Group called for in the Pact to develop measures of progress that go beyond Gross Domestic Product will soon be announced, and will work throughout the year before an inter-governmental process takes over in 2026.

    And we’ve been working closely with the World Bank and the IMF to follow-up on the Pact’s action points addressing improvements to the international financial system.

    Developing countries must be represented fairly in the governance of the very institutions they depend on.

    We know the environment is not favourable.

    But we must not give up.

    Since the Pact’s adoption, I have also established an expert group to identify practical steps for action on debt.

    In the coming weeks, they will propose a list of achievable outcomes — and release a full report in June in advance of the Financing for Development Conference in Spain.

    Debt relief is a central issue if we want the implementation and the Pact for the Future a reality.

    At the same time, we will continue advocating to increase the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks, to make them bigger and bolder.

    This includes both stretching their balance sheets and recapitalization.

    And we must ensure that concessional finance is deployed where it is most needed.

    Many of these actions depend on decisions of other multilateral institutions and of Member States, but we will not relent in our constant advocacy for what the Pact for the Future has clearly indicated as the way to pursue.

    Three — youth and future generations 

    Our efforts must deliver for young people and the generations to come. 

    The Pact’s central promise to young people is to listen to their concerns and ideas, and including them at the decision-making table.

    Following the establishment of a UN Youth Office in 2022, young people played a key role in shaping the Pact’s priorities.

    With the Pact’s adoption, we’re now progressing towards establishing a Youth Investment Platform to ensure that national funding mechanisms and investment platforms are focused on the needs of young people.

    And we’re developing core principles to strengthen youth engagement across our work at the United Nations — including by broadening the representation of younger colleagues within our organizational structures.

    Through the Declaration on Future Generations, we’re also looking to the generations yet to be born.

    We’ve established a Strategic Foresight Network and Community of Practice, to ensure our policies, programmes and field operations are based on long-term thinking.

    And later this year, I will appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations to scale up these efforts.

    Quatrièmement : la technologie.

    Nous mettons en œuvre les appels du Pacte mondial pour le numérique pour combler toutes les fractures numériques et veiller à ce que tout le monde puisse bénéficier d’un espace numérique sûr et sécurisé.

    L’intelligence artificielle fait l’objet d’une attention particulière.

    Nous élaborons un rapport sur les options novatrices de financement volontaire qui permettraient de renforcer les capacités en matière d’intelligence artificielle afin d’aider les pays du Sud à exploiter cette technologie au service de l’intérêt général – en tenant compte des recommandations formulées par mon Organe consultatif de haut niveau. 

    Un avant-projet de résolution visant à établir le Groupe scientifique international indépendant sur l’IA et à organiser un Dialogue mondial sur la gouvernance de l’IA a été distribué la semaine dernière – grâce au travail des co-facilitateurs, l’Espagne et le Costa Rica.

    J’invite l’Assemblée générale à agir rapidement pour mettre sur pied ce Groupe et veiller à ce que le savoir-faire et les connaissances en matière d’IA soient mis à la disposition de tous les pays – tout en soutenant le Dialogue mondial.

    L’ensemble du système de l’ONU se tient prêt à soutenir ces travaux.

    Excellences,

    Tout en défendant ces priorités, nous nous attelons par ailleurs à améliorer l’efficience et l’efficacité de nos opérations – comme l’exige le Pacte.

    L’automne dernier, nous avons entrepris une évaluation complète dans l’ensemble des entités de l’ONU afin d’exploiter le potentiel de l’innovation, de l’analyse des données, de la transformation numérique et de la prospective dans l’ensemble de nos travaux – conformément à l’initiative ONU 2.0.

    Les résultats sont déjà au rendez-vous : nous avons par exemple été capable de constater une accélération de l’évaluation des catastrophes dans la région Asie-Pacifique, un renforcement des programmes de sécurité sociale au Malawi, ou encore une consolidation des fonctions relatives à l’informatique dans l’ensemble du système des Nations Unies.

    Ces efforts, où les données sont une question essentielle pour que nous puissions faire une bien meilleure gestion de ces données – ces efforts doivent se poursuivre, en particulier au regard des problèmes de financement auxquels nous devons faire face.

    Nous comptons sur votre soutien pour mener ce travail à bien.

    Excellences,

    Alors que nous œuvrons pour remodeler le système multilatéral et ainsi relever les défis du monde d’aujourd’hui, le Pacte pour l’avenir est un rouage essentiel de ce processus de renouvellement constant.

    Nous ne pouvons pas diluer nos efforts.

    Gardons intact l’esprit et la détermination qui ont permis de forger et d’adopter le Pacte.

    Nous comptons sur vous pour éclairer, inspirer et guider le travail de mise en œuvre à venir.

    Une fois encore, merci pour vos idées et votre engagement.

    ***
    [All-English]

    Mr. President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    I thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this important dialogue — the first of three in the coming months. 

    From day one of the Pact for the Future’s adoption, the President has been its active champion.

    I deeply appreciate your efforts, Mr. President, and your leadership.

    Excellencies,

    Adopting the Pact was the beginning of the process, not the end. 

    Today I want to focus on what we have done over the last six months — and what we need to do.

    We face a long list of challenges.  

    Conflicts and climate disasters are intensifying.  

    The Sustainable Development Goals are far off-track — as is the funding required to achieve them.

    Geopolitical divisions and mistrust are blocking effective action, with some actively questioning the value of international cooperation and the multilateral system itself.

    But let me be very clear.  It is exactly because of these divides and these mistrusts that the Pact for the Future and the two parallel documents are more important than ever.  And the bigger the obstacle, the bigger will be my determination to make things move forward in line with the will expressed by Member States in the Summit of the Future.

    Meanwhile, critical funding is being drastically cut for people in desperate need — with more reductions to come.

    Resources are shrinking across the board — and they have been for a long time. 

    From day one of my mandate, we embarked on an ambitious agenda to become more effective and cost-effective across our organization.

    Earlier this month, I announced the “UN80” initiative to continue this work and intensify it.

    We’re reviewing efficiencies and improvements to current arrangements, the implementation of mandates handed down by Member States, and structural changes and programme realignment.

    All these will contribute for a more effective implementation of the Pact for the Future.

    Excellencies,

    We’ve wasted no time moving into the implementation phase of the Pact.

    From an operational perspective, we established a principal-level steering committee — which I chair — overseeing six working groups focused on action and reforms in key areas:

    Sustainable Development Goals acceleration…peace and security… international financial architecture…digital technologies…UN governance…and youth.

    We’ve created two task teams focusing on future generations and the need to look beyond GDP as a measure of progress and guide to policy-making. 

    And we’re establishing an internal tracking system to monitor our progress on Pact implementation.

    Today, I’d like to report on our efforts since the Pact was adopted, and outline the work ahead in four areas.

    First — peace and security.

    United Nations peace operations help safeguard people and communities in some of the most desperate corners of the world. 

    The Pact represents a commitment to strengthen tools to prevent and address conflict, to ensure that our peace efforts respond to new and emerging threats.

    In November, I issued a report on peacebuilding which included concrete suggestions to strengthen the Peacebuilding Commission and Fund. 

    We’re actively working on the second independent progress study on the positive contribution of young people to peace processes.  

    And we’re progressing on a review of all forms of Peace Operations — as requested in the Pact. 

    Our recent proposals to the Security Council regarding Haiti are a case in point where new approaches can be developed to complex security challenges.

    The review will be an opportunity to help adapt peace operations to today’s realities, and ensure they’re guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

    It will also recognize the limitations of our operations where there is little or no peace to keep.

    We will also continue pushing forward on other peace-related priorities of the Pact — including disarmament commitments around nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, lethal autonomous weapons and the growing weaponization of outer space.

    And we will continue advocating — including through the intergovernmental negotiations process — for the Pact’s call to make the Security Council more representative of today’s world and more effective in the capacity to promote peace in the world.

    Second — finance for development.

    Since the Pact’s adoption, we’ve taken action on several fronts.

    For example, our Resident Coordinators and Country Teams are now mapping out how we can accelerate progress at the national levels in close cooperation with the Governments.

    We’ve begun analyzing the impact of military expenditure on the achievement of the SDGs and on our own work at the UN — with a final report out by September.

    The Expert Group called for in the Pact to develop measures of progress that go beyond Gross Domestic Product will soon be announced, and will work throughout the year before an inter-governmental process takes over in 2026.

    And we’ve been working closely with the World Bank and the IMF to follow-up on the Pact’s action points addressing improvements to the international financial system.

    Developing countries must be represented fairly in the governance of the very institutions they depend on.

    We know the environment is not favourable.

    But we must not give up.

    Since the Pact’s adoption, I have also established an expert group to identify practical steps for action on debt.

    In the coming weeks, they will propose a list of achievable outcomes — and release a full report in June in advance of the Financing for Development Conference in Spain.

    Debt relief is a central issue if we want the implementation and the Pact for the Future a reality.

    At the same time, we will continue advocating to increase the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks, to make them bigger and bolder.

    This includes both stretching their balance sheets and recapitalization.

    And we must ensure that concessional finance is deployed where it is most needed.

    Many of these actions depend on decisions of other multilateral institutions and of Member States, but we will not relent in our constant advocacy for what the Pact for the Future has clearly indicated as the way to pursue.

    Three — youth and future generations 

    Our efforts must deliver for young people and the generations to come. 

    The Pact’s central promise to young people is to listen to their concerns and ideas, and including them at the decision-making table.

    Following the establishment of a UN Youth Office in 2022, young people played a key role in shaping the Pact’s priorities.

    With the Pact’s adoption, we’re now progressing towards establishing a Youth Investment Platform to ensure that national funding mechanisms and investment platforms are focused on the needs of young people.

    And we’re developing core principles to strengthen youth engagement across our work at the United Nations — including by broadening the representation of younger colleagues within our organizational structures.

    Through the Declaration on Future Generations, we’re also looking to the generations yet to be born.

    We’ve established a Strategic Foresight Network and Community of Practice, to ensure our policies, programmes and field operations are based on long-term thinking.

    And later this year, I will appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations to scale up these efforts.

    Fourth — technology.

    We’re implementing the Global Digital Compact’s calls to close all digital divides and ensure all people benefit from a safe and secure digital space.

    Artificial Intelligence is a particular focus.

    We’re developing a report on innovative voluntary financing options for AI capacity-building to help the Global South harness AI for the greater good, taking into account the recommendations of my High-Level Advisory Body. 

    The zero draft resolution to establish the International Independent Scientific Panel on AI and convene a Global Dialogue on AI Governance was also circulated last week — thanks to the work of the co-facilitators, Spain and Costa Rica.

    I urge the General Assembly to act swiftly to establish this Panel, and ensure that AI expertise and knowledge are available to all countries, while supporting the Global Dialogue.

    The UN system stands ready to support this work.

    Excellencies,

    As we push for these priorities, we’re also improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations, as called for by the Pact.

    Last fall, we undertook a comprehensive assessment across UN entities to harness the potential of innovation, data analytics, digital transformation and foresight across our work — as called for in the UN 2.0 initiative.

    We’re already seeing results: from speeding-up disaster assessments in the Asia-Pacific, to strengthening social security programmes in Malawi, to consolidating Information Technology functions across the UN System.

    This work must continue — especially in light of the funding challenges we face.

    We’re counting on your support as we move forward.

    Excellencies,

    The Pact for the Future is an essential part of this process of constant renewal, as we re-shape the multilateral system for the challenges of today’s world.

    We cannot dilute our efforts.

    We need to sustain the same spirit and determination in which the Pact was forged and adopted.

    We count on you to inform, inspire and guide the implementation work ahead.

    Once again, thank you for your ideas and commitment. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, Marton

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One person has died after a two-vehicle crash on SH1, near Marton, last night.

    Emergency services were called to the scene about 9.45pm.

    Sadly, one person died at the scene.

    Another person sustained minor injuries.

    The Serious Crash Unit has examined the scene, and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Man charged after indecency incidents on buses, Wellington

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    A 27-year-old man has been charged following a series of offending which occurred on the Wellington public transport network.

    In early March, Police received reports relating to several incidents where a male passenger travelling on the Metlink bus network had acted in a sexually inappropriate manner, specifically directing his unwanted behaviour towards lone female passengers. This behaviour obviously caused them distress and to feel unsafe.

    Police promptly launched an investigation and as a result were able to identify, locate and arrest the offender without incident.

    Police understand these incidents can be distressing and we hope this arrest provides reassurance to large sector of the community who rely on public transport.

    Wellington Police are committed to ensuring all members of the public are safe and feel safe as they move about our community.

    Police are ensuring the victims of this offending are being provided support.

    The offender has been charged with multiple counts of performing indecent acts and is due to appear in Wellington District Court on 31 March.

    ENDS
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Property Market – New suburb-level property insights as NZ housing market turns a corner – CoreLogic

    Source: CoreLogic
    Property values across New Zealand are showing signs of recovery, with more than half of suburbs recording stable or rising prices in the first quarter of 2025.
    The latest Mapping the Market update from CoreLogic NZ provides suburb-level insights across 2,661 areas for houses and 1,077 areas for flats/townhouses, offering the most comprehensive view of property values in the country.
    CoreLogic NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said the data confirms that while affordability remains a challenge, improving market conditions are supporting a shift in property values.
    “New Zealand’s housing market has started to turn, driven largely by lower mortgage rates. Over the past three months, 54% of suburbs saw house values stabilise or increase, with a similar trend for flats or townhouses at 56%,” Mr Davidson said.
    “While this recovery is in its early stages, the strongest gains have tended to be concentrated in more affordable areas, where buyers appear to be capitalising on relatively lower property values.”
    Houses on the West Coast, particularly some suburbs in Buller and Grey District, saw values increase by 6% or more over the past quarter, reinforcing the role of affordability in driving market activity.
    Among the main centres, Dunedin’s Waldronville (3.9%), Hamilton’s Temple View (3.5%), and Christchurch’s Kainga (3.3%) recorded some of the strongest gains for standalone houses.
    For flats and townhouses, Glenleith in Dunedin (6.2%) and Grenada North in Wellington (4.8%) led the upturn, while areas such as Deanwell in Hamilton (4.1%) and Auckland North Shore’s Bayview (3.5%) also recorded notable growth.
    Mr Davidson said signs of stabilisation in previously weaker markets suggested demand was gradually beginning to return.
    “The number of suburbs experiencing price declines has narrowed, indicating the early stages of an upturn. Fewer than 230 suburbs saw house values drop by 2% or more over the past three months, while only 111 suburbs recorded similar declines for flats and townhouses,” he said.
    However, he cautioned that recovery remains uneven, with economic conditions, supply levels, and lending constraints continuing to influence local markets.
    “Some areas are stabilising or rising, but others remain affected by high listing volumes and economic uncertainty. The resurgence in values suggests improving sentiment, but we expect the pace of recovery to remain measured as affordability constraints and credit conditions limit momentum.”

    Enhanced market intelligence with new digital mapping

    The Mapping the Market online tool has been significantly expanded, now featuring suburb-level data split by property type. This enhanced dataset allows homebuyers, investors, and policymakers to assess value trends across different housing types using a single, standardised methodology.
    The interactive digital map, available at CoreLogic NZ Mapping the Market, provides current median values across every major suburb. With an intuitive interface, it offers a clear visual representation of where buyers can find properties within their budget.
    Mr Davidson said the latest insights reaffirm the affordability advantages of some regional markets.
    “Lower-priced housing markets are leading the recovery, particularly in West Coast districts such as Buller and Grey, where affordability remains a key driver. Suburbs within major centres, such as Waldronville in Dunedin and Temple View in Hamilton, are also showing signs of renewed demand.”

    NZ’s most expensive and affordable suburbs

    Auckland’s most expensive suburb remains Herne Bay, with a median house value of $3.15 million, while Oriental Bay tops the list in Wellington ($1.57 million) and Merivale in Christchurch ($1.33 million).
    For flats and townhouses, Queenstown continues to dominate, with median values in Queenstown Hill reaching $1.52 million, while Auckland’s Stonefields ($1.37 million) and Campbells Bay ($1.23 million) also rank among the highest.
    More affordable housing options remain available in regional areas, with median property values significantly lower in some parts of Buller and Grey Districts, as examples.

    A cautious recovery ahead

    While more suburbs are showing early signs of a market rebound, Mr Davidson expects the pace of growth to remain gradual due to economic conditions, high listing volumes, and credit constraints.
    “The downturn appears to be largely over, but the upturn in 2025 could be subdued,” he said.
    “The affordability gains seen in recent years are still in place and while lower interest rates may provide a lift, factors like high listings supply levels and restrained lending conditions to some degree – such as the debt to income ratio limits – could temper the recovery.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ABC South East Breakfast with Eddie Williams

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: Well, tax cuts for all workers. Energy Bill Relief. But Budget deficits as far as the eye can see. They are some of the takeaways from the Federal Budget, with a closer look at what it might mean closer to home. Kristy McBain is the Member for Eden-Monaro and the Minister for Regional Development and Local Government. Good morning. 

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Good morning, Eddie. 

    WILLIAMS: What practical difference will this Budget make in the South East? 

    MCBAIN: As you said, there are two new rounds of tax cuts. They’re modest tax cuts, but when they’re combined with the tax cuts that are already in the system, on average by 2026-27, Eden-Monaro taxpayers will be getting an average tax cut of $2,169. Modest changes for the next two years as those two rounds come in, but when we look at the cumulative total, that is good news for workers right across our communities. Obviously, the new round of Urgent Care Clinics, another 50 to the 87 that are already out there in our communities. One of those areas is going to be in the Bega Valley.

    WILLIAMS: Whether it’s health or whether it’s housing, the challenges that regional and rural Australia face play out a bit differently to those in the city. The National Rural Health Alliance says there’s a lack of a targeted strategy to address those unique health challenges in rural communities. Is the Government taking any specific steps to address those specific issues in regional Australia? 

    MCBAIN: We’ve obviously made an announcement about $8.5 billion to strengthen Medicare. There’s a huge amount of money in there, which is all about the health workforce. $662.6 million, which is about growing our health workforce. There’ll be hundreds more GP and rural generalist training places. There are 100 more Commonwealth supported university places for medical students from next year. There are hundreds of scholarships for nurses and midwives to continue to grow their skill set. There are more incentives for our doctors to work in regional and rural Australia, and that builds on our previous announcement to wipe HECS for doctors and nurse practitioners to work in rural and remote Australia. We know it’s really important to deal with the health workforce side of things. It’s not a quick fix to grow our doctor numbers and make sure that they’re trained up and ready to go in our regions, which is why we’re investing really heavily in it. It’s something that should have been happening for decades and unfortunately wasn’t. We’ve seen the freezing of Medicare rebates, which has significantly hampered GP numbers, but we are seeing more students go through and enter our GP training courses now than we have seen in a number of years. 

    WILLIAMS: The Budget is forecast to remain in structural deficit for the next decade. Net debt is rising. Is the Government making any effort at all to pay down Australia’s debt? 

    MCBAIN: We’ve made some significant inroads into that. We’ve reduced the overall national debt by over $170 billion. It will mean that as taxpayers, we’re paying $70 billion less in interest on that debt. Even in this Budget, there’s been $2 billion worth of savings found. Over the four budgets we’ve done there’s been $90 billion of savings made through cutting wastage and rorts, and making sure our departments are working efficiently and effectively. We’ve seen the fruits of that labour by making sure we’ve got Government departments working well. During Cyclone Alfred, where NEMA did such a fantastic job of coordinating response and recovery efforts. Where Services Australia were out on the ground making sure payments were rolled out to people directly impacted. The national emergency stockpile delivering out sandbags, pre-placing generators, and making sure we had a heavy lift helicopters pre-placed in Queensland and New South Wales. You can see the fruits of better, more effective coordination when it comes to those real time disasters. 

    WILLIAMS: 7:15 on ABC South East. If you want to have your say on the Budget, you can call or text 0467 902 684. Joe raises the issue of Ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred, and she says she’s disappointed that the Budget doesn’t seem to have anything new on climate adaptation or emissions reduction. Is that an area where the Government’s dropped the ball? 

    MCBAIN: We’ve been the only Government to really take forward climate action for decades. A legislated emissions reduction target. There’s been significant work on pre-preparing places by having the National Emergency Management Agency set up, which came into effect after we took Government. We’ve had the Disaster Ready fund, which is all about resilience and mitigation in our communities. Something that local governments and insurance companies were calling for to make sure our infrastructure was ready to go. We’ve seen that with the Watergums Bridge in Womboin, a significant investment by the three levels of government to ensure that a community doesn’t get cut off every time it rains and there is a flood. So there’s been some heavy work in that space and that will continue. 

    WILLIAMS: Phil at Bombala asks why Australia can’t build manufacturing again to survive a changing world. The Government’s spoken a lot about its Future Made in Australia policies. How realistic is a manufacturing industry future in Australia? 

    MCBAIN: We’ve said from day one that we need to invest heavily in a Future Made in Australia, and in our last Budget we committed $22 billion towards that very thing. We’ve seen with our National Reconstruction Fund, equity stakes taken in manufacturing mining equipment in Toowoomba, working with some of our defence primes to manufacture more things in this country. There is a significant commitment to making sure we manufacture more in Australia, including the stake that we’ve taken now in South Australian steel manufacturing. It is really important as a country that is a little bit further away from the rest of the world, that we do learn the lessons of COVID, that we are more self-sustainable, and we’re a Government that’s committed to that and putting money into it. 

    WILLIAMS: Will you match the funding commitment that the coalition has made to help upgrade the bigger pool? 

    MCBAIN: I’ll have more to say in the coming days and weeks on my election commitments for the Bega Valley and for Eden-Monaro as a whole, but I’m incredibly proud to have secured tens of millions of dollars in funding for local roads, for community infrastructure, and for other critical projects to date. The way I work is working with our local communities to make sure projects that are funded are key priorities. 

    WILLIAMS: Kristy McBain, appreciate your time this morning. Thank you. 

    MCBAIN: Good to be with you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ABC Radio Adelaide Mornings with Rory McClaren

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    RORY MCCLAREN: We’ve also had another call. The Federal Minister, Catherine King, for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, has rung in. Good morning to you, Minister.

    CATHERINE KING: Good morning. How are you?

    RORY MCCLAREN: Going very well, Catherine King. We’ve been talking a lot about infrastructure across 891 this morning. We know that there is a lot of money that has already been allocated to South Australia in regards to infrastructure funding, particularly on things like the North-South Corridor, the Torrens to Darlington upgrade. How do you respond to criticism that of that $17 billion worth of money that was announced last night, only $125 million is going on one project in Adelaide’s north? 

    CATHERINE KING: Well, someone seems to have missed in the Budget, we’ve actually put $690 million into South Australia, so I’m not sure how that occurred. Of course, one of those projects is $125 million to remove the Curtis Road level crossing, and that is a huge project for the North, a really important project. So I wouldn’t underestimate how significant that is.

    But the other project, which is a really big project, is over $525 million has been committed to the High Productivity Vehicle Network. This is actually about getting upgrades between the South Eastern Freeway and the Sturt Highway, which include things like the duplication of the Swanport Bridge and Murray Bridge Township Bypass in Monarto. That is really important to enable trucks to actually not be in Adelaide, keeping trucks off Cross Road, which I understand the member for Boothby, Louise Miller-Frost, has been calling for [Indistinct]…

    RORY MCCLAREN: [Interrupts] And Catherine King, of that money, how much of that money is new money? So we’re really clear. 

    CATHERINE KING: $525 million is new money in the Budget for the High Productivity Vehicle Network. That is new money in the Budget decision that we’ve made. There’s also $40 million for Main South Road upgrades. That is, again, new money in the Budget. So over $600 million of new money in the Budget for South Australia last night. Again, as I said, Curtis Level Road Crossing removal is huge.

    But really, this Heavy Vehicle Productivity Network, we’ve been talking about it for ages. It is really great news for the people of Adelaide’s southern suburbs. You can be rest assured that there won’t be additional trucks clogging Cross Road. This is an investment we’ve been working on closely with the South Australian Government. They submitted the business case to us back in October for this network to Infrastructure Australia, and this is now us stepping up now that we’ve properly done the work, properly understood what can be done, and work with the South Australian Government to deliver this project.

    RORY MCCLAREN: Catherine King, thank you for your contribution. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: GigaCloud Technology Inc Welcomes Scott Living by Drew & Jonathan™, the Signature Home Brand of Drew and Jonathan Scott, to Its BaaS Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EL MONTE, Calif., March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GigaCloud Technology Inc (Nasdaq: GCT) (“GigaCloud” or the “Company”), a pioneer of global end-to-end B2B ecommerce technology solutions for large parcel merchandise, today announced that Scott Living by Drew & Jonathan™, the home furnishings brand created by TV hosts and renovation experts Drew and Jonathan Scott, has joined its Branding-as-a-Service (BaaS) Program. This collaboration will bring Scott Living’s trusted brand into the GigaCloud B2B Marketplace, creating new avenues for sellers and broadening product selection for buyers. Scott Living’s expertise in outdoor furniture and décor aligns with current consumer trends and presents potential growth opportunities for sellers and retailers in this product category.

    “Brand has always been a powerful driver in the industry, and by introducing Scott Living into BaaS, we aim to help our marketplace participants reach consumers faster with the right combination of quality products and design solutions from a brand they can trust,” said Larry Wu, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of GigaCloud.

    “GigaCloud is more than just a marketplace,” added Wu. “We are a service toolbox offering diverse, tailored solutions that empower our customers to build and scale efficiently. Our Supplier Fulfilled Retailing model serves as the backbone of the program, streamlining supply chain management while enhancing our ecosystem through advanced technology and robust infrastructure to drive operational efficiency. This partnership unlocks new opportunities for our sellers and delivers greater value across our marketplace network worldwide.”

    “Partnering with GigaCloud marks an exciting new chapter for Scott Living,” said Drew and Jonathan Scott. “Since launching our very first product line over a decade ago, our mission has always been to make high-quality home furnishings that work for a variety of families and lifestyles. GigaCloud’s platform opens new doors for us to reach a broader audience and allows us to collaborate with more suppliers and retail channels to continue delivering home products that our customers love. We look forward to seeing how this partnership will help us connect with even more families, create opportunities, and inspire future innovations in the home space.”

    “Scott Living brings a fresh, design-forward appeal that resonates with younger and trend-conscious consumers, a perfect complement to our growing ecosystem that is redefining how furniture is marketed and distributed globally,” said Marshall Bernes, Head of GigaCloud’s BaaS Program and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. 

    About GigaCloud Technology Inc
    GigaCloud Technology Inc is a pioneer of global end-to-end B2B ecommerce technology solutions for large parcel merchandise. The Company’s B2B ecommerce platform, the “GigaCloud Marketplace,” integrates everything from discovery, payments and logistics tools into one easy-to-use platform. The Company’s global marketplace seamlessly connects manufacturers, primarily in Asia, with resellers, primarily in the U.S., Asia and Europe, to execute cross-border transactions with confidence, speed and efficiency. GigaCloud offers a comprehensive solution that transports products from the manufacturer’s warehouse to the end customer’s doorstep, all at one fixed price. The Company first launched its marketplace in January 2019 by focusing on the global furniture market and has since expanded into additional categories, including home appliances and fitness equipment. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: https://www.gigacloudtech.com.

    About Scott Living by Drew & Jonathan
    Scott Living by Drew & Jonathan helps people create a home that looks good and feels good. After transforming houses for hundreds of families, the designers, renovators, entrepreneurs, and Property Brothers hosts Drew and Jonathan Scott know that each family is unique in the way they live, love, grow, and gather, and the best design solutions prioritize functionality and value. With curated collections of quality furniture, lighting, textiles, decor, and home improvement products, the brothers help families reimagine what’s possible in their spaces to reflect their personal style.

    Scott Living collections are widely available at a variety of North American and online retailers, including Amazon, Wayfair, Costco, Sam’s Club, QVC, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, and Home Goods.

    In 2025, Drew and Jonathan Scott are celebrating ten years of creating home products that help families make beautiful, functional spaces that feel as good as they look through their Scott Living and Drew & Jonathan Home brands.

    For more information, please visit ScottLivingHome.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements reflect our current view about future events. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “propose,” “potential,” “continue” or similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
    GigaCloud Technology Inc
    Investor Relations – ir@gigacloudtech.com

    PondelWilkinson, Inc.
    Laurie Berman (Investors) –lberman@pondel.com
    George Medici (Media) – gmedici@pondel.com

    Scott Brothers Global
    Media – SBG@Rubenstein.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Agriculture Committee adopts two decisions to enhance transparency, notifications

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Agriculture Committee adopts two decisions to enhance transparency, notifications

    Tariff-Rate Quotas (TRQs) allow a specified quantity of a product to be imported at a lower tariff rate, while any quantity exceeding that limit is subject to higher tariffs.
    Triennial reviews of Nairobi and Bali decisions
    The Chair announced that members successfully concluded the third triennial review of the Nairobi Decision on Export Competition in December 2024 through a written procedure. The outcome package includes the Review Report (G/AG/39 ) and a decision on a comprehensive export competition notification requirements and formats (G/AG/2/Add.2 ). This streamlines the relevant notification requirements adopted in 1995 (G/AG/2 ) and integrates the export competition questionnaire (ECQ) from the Nairobi Decision. She thanked members for their constructive engagement in reaching consensus.
    Members also adopted a key document on enhanced transparency of TRQ administration notifications (RD/AG/134/Rev.2)  in order to implement the Bali Decision on Tariff Rate Quota administration. Members hailed the successful adoption of the decision on TRQ notifications (G/AG/2/Add.3), recognizing it as the culmination of months of hard work and productive dialogue.
    Members also launched discussions on the second triennial review of the operation of the Bali Decision and shared their expectations of the review.
    Updates on agricultural market developments, food security
    Members heard updated reports from the World Food Programme(WFP), the International Grains Council (IGC) and the World Bank on the latest developments in food security and agriculture. The organizations were invited to the Committee to share information and experiences as a follow-up to  the report and recommendations of the work programme undertaken pursuant to the MC12 declaration on food insecurity.
    The WFP warned that the world is entering a period of high uncertainty, marked by a worsening global food security crisis and humanitarian funding cuts. It estimated that 343 million people suffered from acute food insecurity across 74 countries in 2024 — nearly 200 million more than pre-pandemic levels.
    The WFP stressed that conflict remains the primary driver of food insecurity in war zones, including Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gaza and Somalia. Other factors, such as climate change, economic instability, rising food prices and currency depreciation, continue to affect food supply in developing economies.
    The WFP urged governments to find political solutions to end conflicts, strengthen food systems and enhance support for local economies. It also called for governments to secure funding to protect vulnerable populations and build community food resilience.
    The IGC projected record grain production and a global rebound in grain trade in 2025–26, driven by strong demand from Asia and Africa, as well as other positive market trends. The IGC also outlined its ongoing efforts to improve and standardize trade statistics for rice through better classification of rice types in global trade. It has also developed a dashboard for net food-importing countries to track market changes and refine food security strategies.
    The World Bank echoed concerns raised by the WFP and IGC, stating that acute food insecurity remains at record levels, with an estimated 713–757 million people undernourished. It introduced its Global Challenge Program on Food and Nutrition Security, which includes early warning systems, cross-sectoral approaches to nutrition, and improved access to climate finance for smallholders.
    The World Bank reaffirmed its commitment to nutrition security, emphasizing its alignment with global efforts such as the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris and its integration of nutrition objectives across health, agriculture and social protection investments.
    Members thanked the international organizations for their updates. Some highlighted concerns over food insecurity in least developed countries (LDCs) and net food-importing developing countries (NFIDCs), citing conflict, climate change and high import dependency as key challenges. Others emphasized the need for greater financial support for food and climate resilience while urging the WTO to address the root causes of food insecurity through further agricultural reforms.
    Members also discussed follow-up to Food Security Work Programme recommendations (G/AG/38) from the 12th Ministerial Conference. The Chair commended members’ efforts in implementing some of these recommendations within the Committee and the Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance. Some members stressed the need to turn recommendations into concrete actions, including informal dedicated workshops to share experiences.
    Review of the NFIDC list 
    Divergences remain on the annual review of the NFIDCs list, which is undertaken annually in the Committee’s March meeting. Some members favoured a data-based review exercise requiring NFIDCs to present updated statistics, whereas some others saw no basis to submit such data by NFIDCs beyond their inclusion in the list.
    The discussion concluded without a common understanding of whether the annual review had been accomplished. Some members called for continued discussions in subsequent meetings, while others opposed extending talks beyond the annual March meeting. At the same time, members agreed that the current list (G/AG/5/Rev.12) remains valid unless consensus dictates otherwise.
    Review of agricultural policies
    A total of 208 questions were raised by members concerning individual notifications and specific implementation matters during the meeting. This peer review process allows members to address issues related to the implementation of commitments outlined in the Agreement on Agriculture. Of these, 31 issues were raised for the first time, while 15 were recurring matters from previous Committee meetings.
    The 31 new items covered a range of topics, including Australia’s food and fibre program, Brazil’s rural initiative, Canada’s multiple farm and dairy support programs, and the European Union’s tariffs on Russian agri-food imports. Other topics included India’s sugar support and tariff changes on Bourbon whiskey, Indonesia’s various farm support policies, and Japan’s support for CO₂ reduction and fertilizer procurement. Members also reviewed Paraguay’s financial assistance to farmers, Switzerland’s farm payments, Thailand’s debt relief measures and rice support, Türkiye’s tax and pricing systems, the United Kingdom’s productivity-boosting scheme, and the United States’ applied tariffs and multiple farm support programs.
    Since the previous meeting in November 2024, a total of 110 individual notifications have been submitted to the Committee, covering market access, domestic support, export competition and notifications in the context of the NFIDC Decision. The majority of these notifications — 45 in total — pertain to export competition.
    The Chair urged members to submit timely and complete notifications and to respond to overdue questions, stressing the critical importance of enhanced transparency.
    All questions submitted for the meeting are available in G/AG/W/252. All questions and replies received are available in the WTO’s Agriculture Information Management System (AG IMS).
    Technology transfer
    The Chair reported productive discussions at an informal meeting on 13 February regarding guidance on how to pursue further discussions on technology transfer in 2025.
    Some members expressed interest in shifting discussions from experience-sharing to the WTO framework of rules and its role in promoting agricultural innovations and technologies. While they acknowledged that the Agreement on Agriculture provides a clear policy and legal basis for agricultural technology transfer — essential for improving food security and rural development — barriers remain in accessing these technologies, highlighting the need for affordable innovations. To address these challenges, these members suggested future seminars to discuss both policy considerations under the Agreement on Agriculture and practical country case studies.
    Some members also emphasized the need for the Committee to further explore sustainable agriculture, with a focus on practical, expert-led discussions. One suggestion was to highlight the importance of capacity building in developing economies, supported by strengthened collaboration with regional research centres.
    The Chair noted the need to continue discussions on this agenda item at the next meeting, which will help the incoming Chair plan future work.
    Other business
    The Chair said that the election of the new Chair will be considered at the June meeting, as the consultation process is still ongoing.
    The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) briefly introduced its 2025 work plan (G/AG/GEN/248). In close cooperation with the WTO, the IICA will organize a seminar in Paraguay in the second half of the year to train government officials from the region on improving their notification capacity and negotiation skills.
    Next meeting
    The next meeting of the Committee on Agriculture is scheduled for 23-24 June 2025.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Pakistan: Opaque ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan’ targeting Afghan refugees must be withdrawn 

    Source: Amnesty International –

    The Pakistani government’s plans to arbitrarily and forcibly expel Afghan nationals, including refugees and asylum seekers, as part of the opaque ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan’ will only add to their plight, Amnesty International said today, ahead of the authorities’ 31 March deadline to oust Afghan nationals from the cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The exact content of the Pakistan government’s ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan’ used for deportations has never been made public, but it comes amid a campaign to wrongfully demonize Afghan nationals as so-called criminals and terrorists.  

    “The Pakistani government’s unyielding and cruel deadline, which is less than a week away, to remove Afghan refugees and asylum seekers from two major cities, resulting in deportation of many at risk, shows little respect for international human rights law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement. The opaque executive orders contravene the government’s own promises and repeated calls by human rights organizations to uphold the rights of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers,” said Isabelle Lassée, deputy regional director for South Asia at Amnesty International. 

    “It is disingenuous to frame Afghan refugees as a menace to the cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The Government of Pakistan is only making a scapegoat of a community that has long been disenfranchised and fleeing persecution.” 

    It is disingenuous to frame Afghan refugees as a menace to the cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The Government of Pakistan is only making a scapegoat of a community that has long been disenfranchised and fleeing persecution.

    Isabelle Lassée, Deputy regional director for South Asia at Amnesty International

    Risk of relocations and deportations 

    According to a government notification dated 29 January 2025, reviewed by Amnesty International, all Afghan nationals are required to leave the cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi by 31 March —some due to be relocated to other cities within Pakistan and others to be deported back to Afghanistan.  

    Those holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, issued by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), are to be moved outside Islamabad and Rawalpindi by the deadline. Speaking to Amnesty, human rights lawyer Moniza Kakar pointed out that forcing Afghan refugees to relocate even within Pakistan is devastating for families. “Many PoR card holders are people who’ve been here for decades, asking them to relocate means you’re asking them to leave homes, businesses, communities and lives they’ve built for years,” she said. 

    Meanwhile, Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders are to be immediately and unlawfully deported to Afghanistan, along with other undocumented refugees and asylum seekers, in violation of the principle of non-refoulement as set out in international human rights law. Afghan refugees due to be resettled in a third country will also be moved outside the cities, far from foreign missions who had promised visas and travel documents, and risk deportation due to the increased difficulty in coordinating their relocation with missions such as the United States. 

    Lawyer Umer Gillani, who has challenged the government’s decision to deport refugees at the Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court, said that “the official notification [for the 31 March deadline] has not been issued under any particular law, it is just an executive instruction. This is not just against fundamental rights, but also against plain black letter law.” 

    Demonization campaign amid conflicting directives 

    While the government has largely failed to give any rationale for its hardline stance against Afghan refugees and those seeking asylum, calls for their deportation have been frequently accompanied by the portrayal of refugees as ‘traitors’, terrorists, drug peddlers, and criminals by Pakistani media. “A significant portion of those involved in criminal and terrorist activities are among these illegal immigrants,” said Pakistan’s then interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar in November 2023. This signaling has been used as a pretext to impose restrictions on Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, leading to widespread discrimination and harassment, amongst numerous conflicting directives from government officials. 

    In January 2025, Minister of Interior, Moshin Naqvi, announced that no Afghan refugees would be allowed to stay in Islamabad without a no-objection certificate (NOC) – a notoriously difficult document to obtain. He gave no explanation for the legal basis of this requirement. Shortly afterwards, Amnesty International noted a surge in arbitrary detentions at the start of the year and 986 deportations were recorded in January by UN International Organization for Migration.  

    In another notification dated 7 March 2025, the Ministry of Interior again stepped-up pressure on Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, urging all “illegal foreigners” and ACC holders to “leave Pakistan voluntarily before 31 March 2025”. The notification was removed from the ministry’s website within hours, but a copy of the text was reproduced on the Joint Action Committee for Refugees (JAC-R) website which has also documented similar eviction notices beyond the capital’s twin cities.   

    In addition to these threats, Afghans living in Islamabad have also been subjected to racial profiling following statements by Pakistani officials, including the country’s interior minister, who have accused Afghan refugees of being involved in political unrest following protests by opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on 26 November 2024 in Islamabad. These developments became a precursor to the March 31st deadline. 

    We call on the authorities to immediately withdraw the ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan’ and take corrective action in accordance with international human rights law.

    Isabelle Lassée

    “The Pakistani authorities are violating the rights of Afghan refugees with impunity, subjecting them to arbitrary decisions that are shrouded in secrecy, totally lacking transparency and accountability. Carrying out this brazen plan of expelling Afghan refugees and asylum seekers who have long resided in these two cities, will undo the years of hard work that the Afghans have put in rebuilding their lives in Pakistan,” said Isabelle Lassée. 

    “We call on the authorities to immediately withdraw the ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan’ and take corrective action in accordance with international human rights law.”  

    Background: 

    Between September 2023 and February 2025, Pakistan forcibly deported at least 844,499 Afghan nationals back to Afghanistan where they are at real risk of persecution by the Taliban and an ongoing economic crisis. Many of those facing forced return to Afghanistan, including journalists, human rights defenders, women protestors, artists, and former government officials are at imminent risk of persecution and repression by the Taliban if forced to return to Afghanistan. 

    In January 2025, the government assured the Supreme Court of Pakistan that all Afghan refugees who have been registered in “any way” would not be “apprehended” nor “deported”. Earlier this month, the Islamabad High Court directed authorities to cease all harassment of PoR card holders. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Global: Leaders must unite to resist all who undermine the international legal order, in Ukraine and beyond

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Speaking ahead of Thursday’s summit in Paris, where a coalition of states bringing together leaders across Europe, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Türkiye will discuss support for Ukraine and defense against Russian aggression, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said:

    “As European and other leaders come together to affirm their determination to defend Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression, Amnesty International calls on them to prioritize justice for Ukraine and center their proposals on human rights protection for all.  

    “Russia has perpetrated all manner of war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law in Ukraine, including deadly deliberate airstrikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure, the torture and enforced disappearance of Ukrainian civilian detainees and prisoners of war, and executions and killings of individuals in Russian captivity. It has also overseen the forcible transfer of children to Russia, the suppression of non-Russian identities and a campaign of harassment and intimidation to ensure compliance with Russian authorities in Crimea and other Russian-occupied territories.

    “We urge leaders at the summit to do all within their power and authority to put a stop to these heinous crimes, protect the people of Ukraine and uphold their rights to justice, accountability, and reparation. We call on the leaders to ensure that those most impacted by Russia’s war of aggression have their voices heard and their needs met.

    By failing to enforce international law anywhere, Europe’s leaders help weaken it everywhere.

    Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General

    “As the people of Ukraine and many others caught up in the world’s conflicts demonstrate daily, justice and freedom from oppression are secured though resistance that upholds human rights, shared values and a clear-minded vision for a better, more just future.

    “The coalition of European and other states must recognize that their stand for Ukraine is grounded on a broader vision: a vision for the freedom and human security of Ukrainians and all people the world over; a vision grounded in the promise of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Today’s leaders must defend those standards steadfastly, without fear or favour.

    “In this instance, it is the Russian authorities and Vladimir Putin that are the aggressors. But many world leaders, from Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump to Xi Jinping and Nayib Bukele, are actively undermining the international rule of law. We watch with alarm as increasingly authoritarian leaders are rising to power across the globe – and many of them finding comfort in Presidents Putin and Trump’s shared disdain for international law and willingness to sacrifice justice and victims’ rights.

    “European Leaders in particular must be alert to this ominous trend. They must reject the double standards that have become the hallmark of European international policy, painfully evident in its failure to protect the people of Gaza from Israel’s genocide. By failing to enforce international law anywhere, Europe’s leaders help weaken it everywhere.

    “Instead, Europe must build a different, broader and much stronger international coalition – one capable of withstanding not only Russia’s belligerent ambitions, but also of protecting human rights, and the multilateral and international legal order. Supporting Ukraine demands that they hold all governments to the same standards they apply to Russia. It demands too that they enforce the arms embargo to Sudan and rectify all instances of double standards. Persisting with a selective, inconsistent approach to international law will deprive the European leaders’ position of any international credibility.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Global: Leaders at Paris summit urged to defend international rule of law ‘without fear or favour’

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Leaders from Europe, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Türkiye to meet tomorrow in Paris

    The coalition will discuss support for Ukraine and defense against Russian aggression

    Persisting with a selective, inconsistent approach to international law will deprive European leaders’ position of any international credibility

    ‘We watch with alarm as increasingly authoritarian leaders are rising to power across the globe’ – Agnès Callamard

    Speaking ahead of Thursday’s summit in Paris, where a coalition of states bringing together global leaders to discuss support for Ukraine and defense against Russian aggression, Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said:

    “As European and other leaders come together to affirm their determination to defend Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression, Amnesty International calls on them to prioritise justice for Ukraine and center their proposals on human rights protection for all.  

    “Russia has perpetrated all manner of war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law in Ukraine, including deadly deliberate airstrikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure, the torture and enforced disappearance of Ukrainian civilian detainees and prisoners of war, and executions and killings of individuals in Russian captivity. It has also overseen the forcible transfer of children to Russia, the suppression of non-Russian identities and a campaign of harassment and intimidation to ensure compliance with Russian authorities in Crimea and other Russian-occupied territories.

    “We urge leaders at the summit to do all within their power and authority to put a stop to these heinous crimes, protect the people of Ukraine and uphold their rights to justice, accountability, and reparation. We call on the leaders to ensure that those most impacted by Russia’s war of aggression have their voices heard and their needs met.

    “The coalition of European and other states must recognise that their stand for Ukraine is grounded on a broader vision: a vision for the freedom and human security of Ukrainians and all people the world over; a vision grounded in the promise of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Today’s leaders must defend those standards steadfastly, without fear or favour.

    “In this instance, it is the Russian authorities and Vladimir Putin that are the aggressors. But many world leaders, from Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump to Xi Jinping and Nayib Bukele, are actively undermining the international rule of law. We watch with alarm as increasingly authoritarian leaders are rising to power across the globe – and many of them finding comfort in Presidents Putin and Trump’s shared disdain for international law and willingness to sacrifice justice and victims’ rights.

    “European Leaders must reject the double standards that have become the hallmark of European international policy, painfully evident in its failure to protect the people of Gaza from Israel’s genocide. By failing to enforce international law anywhere, Europe’s leaders help weaken it everywhere.

    “Europe must build a different, broader and much stronger international coalition – one capable of withstanding not only Russia’s belligerent ambitions, but also of protecting human rights, and the multilateral and international legal order. Supporting Ukraine demands that they hold all governments to the same standards they apply to Russia. It demands too that they enforce the arms embargo to Sudan and rectify all instances of double standards. Persisting with a selective, inconsistent approach to international law will deprive the European leaders’ position of any international credibility.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Speaking to Americans about the value of Alberta ties

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Legal and Governance Sectors – Janine Stewart: No Success without Succession

    Source: Institute of Directors NZ

    Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland-based Janine Stewart MInstD started her legal career in property litigation before moving into construction and infrastructure. Today, she is a specialist in construction and infrastructure, property and project disputes, and a partner at Minter Ellison Rudd Watts.  
     
    Stewart says the construction industry interacts with many facets of law, including contract, negligence and equity.  
     
    “You also see construction and infrastructure projects all around you . . . it’s very tangible and requires quite a lot of critical thinking and a solutions-focused approach where problem solving is at its core,” she says.  
     
    It’s also the reason governance appealed to her.  Stewart’s first experience of governance was as part of an advisory panel providing advice to the Ministry of Business and Innovation (MBIE) on construction issues and the Building Act. She says the panel ran in a similar way to a board and broadened her perspective beyond her practice and full-time work. It also aligned with her skill set.  
     
    “I really enjoyed that. I could bring what I knew from my practice to the panel – and the panel insights to my practice,” she says.  
     
    Stewart currently sits on two boards – Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, and Mercy Ships – an international organisation that brings medical care to low-income countries.  
     
    “I traveled to Dallas in place of the chair of Mercy Ships in 2017 (who was unable to attend the international board meeting) to focus on the vision and strategy of its 16 offices – that just sealed it for me,” Stewart says.  
     
    Being part of ‘the bigger picture’ and focusing on the vision, purpose and strategy of an organisation – and testing it operationally – keeps her engaged. For Stewart, having had her hand in construction-based board roles also enables her to bring deep knowledge and fresh thinking to an industry she describes as having its own level of complexity.  
     
    One of the bigger cases she has worked on in her legal practice was against Mainzeal prior to its liquidation.  
     
    “Mainzeal’s demise significantly impacted the shape of my practice because I was very focused on a major piece of litigation against it,” she says of the case.  
     
    When Mainzeal went into insolvency and the litigation wound down, this shifted the focus of her business to navigating tensions and disputes in ‘live’ projects.
     
    Overall, Stewart says large scale projects in the industry carry greater risk. Construction companies are not typically ‘asset heavy’, instead, “construction company assets tend to be in their goodwill, their people, and/or in their pipeline and projects”.  
     
    “You must be cognisant of these specific features of construction companies if you are on these types of boards because you must test the company’s ability to meet obligations on an ongoing basis against this framework,” says Stewart, who has conducted training with contractors and subcontractors on solvency-related issues that derive from late or failed payments.  
     
    “So, you do need to focus on cash flow and your ability to meet the solvency test to comply with your ongoing obligations, because you don’t necessarily have that direct and material asset base to draw on when cash flow might be tight.”
     
    If directors and boards aren’t comfortable with the financial information provided, Stewart recommends asking questions and/or seeking external expertise.  
     
    “You don’t have to be a forensic accountant, it’s having that confidence to call for external expert help when you need it,” Stewart says.
     
    For directors across all industries, the Mainzeal case, according to Stewart, highlighted the importance of skill sets around the board table and the need for succession planning.  
     
    “I think those points have really come into focus since Mainzeal because the financial state of affairs . . . were dire at the time. Had they reflected on whether they should have gotten expert advice, or [decided whether to] step down, I wonder how that would have impacted their liability.”
     
    As a result, today,‘liability’ might reverberate more forcefully in the governance landscape regardless of the type of board or industry.  
     
    But directors can guard themselves against risk by expanding their knowledge. Likening the need for continuous self-development to training at the gym or being in a relationship, Stewart says work is required. And the same is true of any board role. “You need to continue to work to improve yourself.”
     
    In 2020, Stewart attended the Institute of Directors (IoD) Company Directors’ Course and, more recently, attended the Advanced Directors Course where she says the critical thinking, and self-reflection around your values as a director and what you bring to the board table, appealed.  
     
    “I had recently joined [the Minter Ellison Rudd Watts] board and I liked the focus on critical thinking on the course because that’s something I can also bring into my legal practice and around the board table,” says Stewart, who is also looking to expand her governance portfolio.  
     
    “[In the course], there was a big focus on climate, behaviours and younger people coming onto boards and making sure they’re heard, and that the board is essentially doing the best job it can.”
     
    She says while some might dismiss development programmes, she reinforces the importance of ‘testing yourself’ and for boards to have regular board evaluations. As for identifying when it’s the right time to step down from a role, deep self-reflection and asking yourself some hard questions are necessary.  
     
    “There is a risk in people staying too long and holding onto their board roles. There’s also an important aspect of maintaining institutional knowledge, so it’s about striking a balance to ensure you’re bringing your best self to the table.”
     
    ‘Groupthink’ can also increase a board’s risk, especially where younger or new directors join the board and are shut down or dismissed by established members if they raise concerns or challenge the board.  
     
    “Groupthink just continues . . . but you have to think about how you might create a board culture that reduces the risk of that happening, and, when it does, make sure you’re prepared to deal with it because nothing’s perfect.”
     
    One thing Stewart would like to see more of at board tables across Aotearoa is “more listening”.  
     
    “And take a pause before putting forward your view . . . I think we are sort of wired to speak quickly, and we need to take the time to listen and pause and respond, rather than react.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Economy – Can new public infrastructure pay for itself? – Infrastructure Commission

    Source: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission

    Research by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission explores whether new public infrastructure investment can generate revenue to pay back the cost of the investment.
    “The social and economic benefits of public infrastructure – our hospitals, schools, roads, water networks and more – are clear. But while all infrastructure needs to be paid for, it’s not always clear how it’s paid for,” Peter Nunns, General Manager – Strategy, says.
    How we pay for new infrastructure
    “One way to pay for more infrastructure investment is by raising user charges or tax rates. But that can be difficult. A recent public opinion survey from Ipsos shows that while most New Zealanders think we should do more to meet our infrastructure needs, few of us are willing to pay higher charges or taxes to fund more investment.
    “Another option is to invest in public infrastructure that pays for itself by bringing in new revenue. Projects that lead to large increases in infrastructure usage or large increases in economic activity generate more revenue from existing user charges, local government rates, or taxes.
    “Our new research, Paying it back: An examination of the fiscal returns of public infrastructure investment, takes a closer look at when, where, and how this is possible.
    When does new infrastructure pay for itself
    “Projects that can be delivered cost-effectively and that benefit many people are more likely to pay for themselves out of new revenue. Prioritising value for money can help boost our ability to invest in more infrastructure.
    “However, the bar is very high for public infrastructure projects to fully pay for themselves. Governments only collect a small share of new economic activity or user benefits through taxes, rates, or user charges. As a result, we estimate that transport projects must generate social and economic benefits that are five to nine times higher than the cost of the project to generate enough new tax revenue to pay for themselves,” Nunns says.
    “Our research suggests that the payback from public infrastructure investment tends to be higher when infrastructure networks are added to bit by bit as demand grows. In contrast, the costs of a ‘big bang’ approach usually outstrip the returns and must be covered from other tax or rates revenues. This could then take money that could be used for other priorities like hospitals and schools.
    A closer look at local councils
    “In one case study, we looked at seven large or growing urban councils over a 25-year period. We estimated how much they spent on infrastructure to accommodate population growth – from construction to ongoing maintenance,” Nunns says.
    “Some of these councils generate enough new revenue from this infrastructure – through development contributions and added rates revenues on new buildings – to fully recoup the cost. Others spent more on growth infrastructure than they earned in new revenue. We found that councils that grew their networks in line with population growth were much more likely to come out financially ahead after 25 years.
    “Not all projects have to pay their way. The point of public infrastructure is to improve community wellbeing, not simply generate revenue. But as the challenges of an ageing population and slowing productivity growth place pressure on our budgets, we’ll need to pay more attention to the fiscal sustainability of new infrastructure investment,” Nunns says.
    Background information
    • The report Paying it back: An examination of the fiscal returns of public infrastructure investment includes three case studies to explore how and when infrastructure can generate sufficient revenue to cover its costs.
    • Based on the case studies, the report highlights four key lessons for how to maximise revenues from new investments: project quality matters (projects that are cost-effective to build and which serve more users or beneficiaries are more likely to generate positive fiscal returns); the bar is high for projects to fully pay for themselves; incremental investment tends to have higher returns; and attaching revenue streams to new projects can help.
    • One case study looks at a 25-year period from 2007 to 2031 for seven local councils (Auckland (2012 to 2031), Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown-Lakes, and Dunedin).
    • Another case study looks at four major transport projects, both road and rail, where published business cases provided sufficient information to calculate fiscal returns to the Crown: Ōtaki to north of Levin (O2NL) motorway (a 24-kilometre, four-lane motorway and shared use path); Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway (an 18.5-kilometre, four lane motorway, the first section of the Ara Tūhono, Pūhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance); Warkworth to Wellsford motorway (the second proposed leg of the Ara Tūhono, Pūhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance); and City Rail Link (CRL) (a mostly tunnelled 3.5-kilometre rail link connecting the Britomart Transport Centre to the North Auckland Line).
    • The final case study examines how a hypothetical tool, like a value capture levy to collect revenue from increasing property values might affect the returns from major transport projects. The study tests different scenarios around project cost, characteristics, and population density in the area that the project is serving.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 60-day scripts were supposed to save time and money. So why are we still waiting for cheaper medicines?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Breadon, Program Director, Health and Aged Care, Grattan Institute

    adriaticfoto/Shutterstock

    Labor has committed A$690 million over four years to cut the maximum cost of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to $25. The Coalition has matched the promise, which is estimated to save Australians $200 million a year.

    But consumers could save even more if an existing policy met its potential.

    In 2023, the federal government introduced 60-day prescribing. This meant consumers could get twice as many pills per script, with fewer trips to the pharmacist (and to the doctor for a script).

    The government announced that consumers would save up to $190 a year for a single medicine, and up to $46 for a concession card holder, compared to the costs of a 30-day script.

    But after a tough fight to get this policy, it isn’t living up to its promise.

    A hard-won policy

    It took political courage, and government spending, to get this change.

    Data on political donations show pharmaceutical interests make up the vast bulk of donations from the health sector. The Pharmacy Guild, which represents pharmacy owners, spent the most by far. These donations are an attempt to wield influence behind the scenes. When that fails, the guild isn’t afraid to attack governments in public.

    The federal government stared down a histrionic scare campaign against 60-day prescribing. The guild claimed pharmacies would close due to reduced dispensing fees. It also claimed medicines would run out, and children would overdose due to pill hoarding.

    The government pushed through the policy, but directly compensated rural pharmacies with ongoing payments worth $20 million a year.

    The government also brought forward negotiation of the eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement, which sets how much the government pays pharmacists for dispensing, medication management, and other services. The agreement was signed last year and added $3 billion in new spending.

    A long wait for longer scripts

    After all that conflict and cost, our analysis of PBS data shows the uptake of longer scripts has been painfully slow.

    About 300 drugs for chronic health conditions have been added to the eligibility list in three stages.

    For the first stage of medicines, the 60-day option became available in late 2023. This included common medications such as statins for high cholesterol, perindopril for high blood pressure, and alendronate for osteoporosis.

    More than a year later, in November 2024, only 30% of eligible stage one medicines dispensed were from a 60-day script.

    That’s well short of expectations. The Department of Health and Aged Care predicted 60-day uptake would reach 45% in 2023–24, 58% in 2024–25, and 63% in 2026–27, if fully implemented.

    Across all medicines eligible for 60-day prescribing, including those added in the second and third stages, just 21% of medicines dispensed were from a 60-day script.

    Even at these low rates, we estimate the policy has saved consumers more than $110 million so far. Higher uptake, closer to the rates the department predicted, would mean even more savings.

    Millions of people are missing out. In 2024, there were about 28 million 30-day scripts for statins, compared to about 5 million 60-day scripts. If half of these patients had a 60-day script, they would have saved an extra $27 million a year.

    If half of all eligible medicines were dispensed for 60 days, we estimate patients would have saved an extra $310 million a year. That’s more than the $200 million in expected savings from the $25 medicines promise.

    And while the government spends money on the $25 medicines policy, it saves money from 60-day scripts, by paying pharmacists fewer dispensing fees.

    We estimate the government has already saved $141 million from 60-day prescribing. It could save an extra $297 million a year if uptake increased to 50%.

    So why aren’t more GPs writing longer scripts?

    Despite the Pharmacy Guild’s efforts to undermine the reform, low uptake is more about doctors than pharmacists: the GP who writes the script determines its duration, not the pharmacist.

    Risks for patients aren’t the problem. While 60-day prescribing won’t be right for all patients, experts selected the eligible drugs because prescribing them for 60 days is usually appropriate and safe.

    While there’s some variation in 60-day prescribing rates for different medicines, it’s low across the board. That suggests the problem isn’t about GPs being much more cautious with some drugs than with others.

    The GP determines the duration of the script, not the pharmacist.
    Stephen Barnes/Shutterstock

    The culprit is probably inertia. GP practice software generates default prescriptions when a patient has had a drug before. With most people still getting 30-day prescriptions, that will be the default for most repeat scripts. And many patients might not be aware the new 60-day option is available.

    It’s time to get results

    With cost-of-living and health system pressures never far from the headlines, making progress on 60-day prescribing should be a priority.

    The benefits for patient and government budgets are obvious. But the benefits of freeing up time for busy clinicians shouldn’t be overlooked. Longer scripts means less GP time to write them, and less pharmacist time to fill them.

    As Australia gets older and sicker, the need for GP and pharmacist care grows, and there are severe primary care shortages in many parts of the country.

    Every second of GP time that can be freed up for diagnosis, treatment, and to help patients manage their conditions is precious.

    There is also good evidence pharmacists can provide cost-effective medication reviews, chronic disease management advice and other services. Shifting their time from retail to services is a great way to take pressure off the health system.

    So what can be done?

    Fortunately, there are some easy shortcuts to longer scripts.

    Providers of GP software should make 60-day prescribing the default for relevant medicines.

    The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the professional body for GPs, should continue to encourage GPs to write longer scripts.

    Primary Health Networks, the regional bodies responsible for improving primary care, should tell GPs how they compare with their peers, giving a nudge to GPs with low rates of 60-day prescribing.

    Finally, the federal government and consumer groups should run campaigns to inform patients about their options.

    Longer scripts are a triple win: savings on medicines for patients, budget savings for the government, and more time for GPs and pharmacists. Few reforms tick all those boxes, so it’s important this one makes its way from good policy to standard practice.

    Grattan Institute has been supported in its work by government, corporates, and philanthropic gifts. A full list of supporting organisations is published at www.grattan.edu.au.

    – ref. 60-day scripts were supposed to save time and money. So why are we still waiting for cheaper medicines? – https://theconversation.com/60-day-scripts-were-supposed-to-save-time-and-money-so-why-are-we-still-waiting-for-cheaper-medicines-250061

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Early exposure to air pollution could affect brain development and mental health later in life: new research

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Hobbs, Associate Professor and Transforming Lives Fellow in Spatial Data Science and Planetary Health, Sheffield Hallam University

    Getty Images

    Exposure to air pollution in early life could have lasting effects on child development and mental health in adolescence, according to our recent study.

    We integrated air pollution data with existing longitudinal data from the Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS). The CHDS has followed more than 1,200 children born in the city in 1977, with a strong focus on developmental and mental health outcomes.

    Our aim was to examine how exposure to air pollution shapes development and mental health in later childhood and adolescence. We found an increased risk of attention problems, conduct issues, lower educational attainment and substance abuse in adolescence associated with higher exposure.

    Existing evidence often focuses on adulthood. However, by tracking air pollution exposure from the prenatal period to the age of ten, and linking this data to subsequent cognitive and mental health outcomes, we were able to highlight the long-term consequences of growing up in polluted environments.

    Air pollution is one of the leading environmental contributors to disease, especially respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Children are especially vulnerable to air pollution because their brains and bodies are developing.

    A growing body of evidence suggests air pollution could affect brain development, educational attainment and mental health, contributing to depression, anxiety and conduct or attention problems. Despite this, few studies have tracked long-term exposure to air pollution from early childhood.

    Patterns of exposure

    We chose to conduct this research in Christchurch because the city is a historical air-pollution hotspot, with a documented history of measurements, and because of its long-running birth cohort study.

    The CHDS collects detailed information on participants’ health, development, education and family backgrounds from prenatal into adulthood.

    The city of Christchurch now enjoys much better air quality, but it was an air-pollution hotspot in the past.
    Flickr/Larry Koester, CC BY-SA

    For this study, we linked historical air-pollution data, measured as the concentration of black smoke from 1977 to 1987, to residential locations of birth cohort members. This allowed researchers to estimate each child’s annual exposure to air pollution during key developmental periods.

    We found four distinct patterns of air-pollution exposure across childhood (see graph below):

    • consistently low (these children had the lowest levels of air pollution throughout childhood)

    • consistently high (this groups had the highest levels of air pollution from birth to the age of ten)

    • elevated preschool (exposure peaked between ages three to six and then declined)

    • high prenatal and postnatal (high exposure before and immediately after birth, but declining later).

    We then examined whether children in the higher exposure groups were more likely to experience adverse impacts on cognition, educational achievement and mental health in later childhood and adolescence.

    We adjusted for a range potential confounders such as socioeconomic status, neighbourhood disadvantage and parental characteristics.

    We found children with elevated pre-school exposure had poorer educational attainment and a higher likelihood of conduct disorders and substance abuse problems. High prenatal and postnatal exposure was linked to a greater risk of attention problems as well as substance abuse in adolescence.

    Children with persistently high air-pollution exposure were more likely to develop attention problems and had higher odds of substance abuse issues in adolescence.

    Researchers identified four different trajectory patterns of exposure to air pollution from the prenatal period through to the age of ten.
    Author provided, CC BY-SA

    What these findings mean

    The effects of air pollution on several outcomes were small at an individual level, but they could be highly important at a population level.

    This is because even small shifts in cognitive and mental health outcomes, when applied to entire populations of children exposed to poor air quality, could have major consequences affecting future educational achievement, workforce productivity and public health burdens.

    These findings support previous research suggesting air pollution could affect brain function by causing inflammation, oxidative stress and affecting neurodevelopmental pathways. Importantly, they reinforce the idea that certain developmental periods, such as the prenatal period and early childhood, may be especially sensitive to pollution exposure.

    We need further research to confirm our findings but potential considerations include reducing children’s exposure to air pollution and improving urban air quality by cutting emissions from vehicles, industry and residential heating.

    We should also promote cleaner energy sources to decrease exposure to harmful pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter. Providing better access to green spaces may mitigate the impact of air pollution.

    To strengthen public health and policy measures, we need stricter air quality regulations, particularly around schools and childcare centres. We should also implement air-quality monitoring in urban areas to identify high-risk zones for children.

    Better public information is crucial to minimise indoor and outdoor pollution exposure. This could include the use of air purifiers for indoor activies or limiting outdoor exposure during peak pollution periods.

    Further research and action

    Our study highlights the need for more research on air pollution’s effects on children’s mental health and cognition, particularly in different environmental and socioeconomic contexts.

    Policymakers, educators and healthcare professionals must consider air pollution as a potential risk factor for developmental challenges, not just a physical health concern.

    Air pollution may not be visible in the same way as poor housing or inaccessible healthcare, but its impact on child development could be important at a population level.

    Given the rising prevalence of mental ill health in young people and adults, tackling air pollution could be an overlooked but essential public health strategy for protecting future generations.

    Associate Professor Matthew Hobbs receives funding from Health Research Council of New Zealand and the Clare Foundation, New Zealand.

    Joseph Boden receives funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Enterprise, and the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

    Lianne Jane Woodward and Susie (Bingyu) Deng do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Early exposure to air pollution could affect brain development and mental health later in life: new research – https://theconversation.com/early-exposure-to-air-pollution-could-affect-brain-development-and-mental-health-later-in-life-new-research-252644

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –