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Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-Evening Report: The ICC showed its might by arresting Rodrigo Duterte. Its reputation will take longer to fix

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yvonne Breitwieser-Faria, Lecturer in International Law, Curtin University

    Only five days after the arrest warrant against former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte was issued, he was apprehended and immediately put on a plane to The Hague to face charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    The prompt action – and the fact he is the first former Asian head of state before the ICC – have been heralded as “a pivotal moment for the court”.

    While this is a rare success story in the court’s tumultuous history, many challenges remain. The successful arrest of one defendant will unfortunately do little to change negative perceptions of the court or remove the many obstacles it faces in prosecuting cases.

    A long history of criticism

    The ICC was conceived as a “court of last resort” in 1998 under the Rome Statute, the treaty that established it. The aim was to try individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and aggression in cases where a state’s domestic courts refuse or are unable to do so.

    Shortly after it began its work in 2002, however, the ICC faced criticism for its perceived focus on Africa.

    In more recent years, it has also been criticised for its limited effectiveness, its perceived hypocrisy, and a lack of support from major powers, such as the US, China and Russia, which are not members.

    The court has long faced a public relations crisis it may never be able to resolve. When it does not investigate a potential case, it is said to be ineffective. And when it does initiate investigations, it is often said to be biased or acting beyond its capabilities.

    Putin and Netanyahu

    Currently, the ICC has 12 ongoing investigations, mostly in Africa and Asia. It has issued 56 arrest warrants, half of which have yet to be executed.

    As the focus of the court is limited to those who bear the greatest responsibility for international crimes, the cases frequently involve high-profile individuals.

    Current arrest warrants, for example, have been issued against Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of allegedly deporting Ukrainian children to Russia and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes committed in Gaza.

    These two cases have been among the court’s most controversial. Critics say the ICC lacks jurisdiction because:

    • the alleged crimes did not occur in their own states
    • their states are not parties to the Rome Statute
    • the UN Security Council did not refer these cases to the ICC for investigation.

    Others have accused the court of selective prosecution and bias for pursuing a case against Netanyahu, specifically, instead of prioritising cases in states run by dictators, such as Syria.

    And some complain the court should be focusing on crimes allegedly committed by Western leaders in places like Iraq.

    Indicting leaders of states raises additional legal challenges. International law dictates that heads of state enjoy immunity in other states’ courts – unless this immunity is expressly waived by their own governments.

    The ICC defends its actions as fair. It argues it does have jurisdiction in the cases against Putin and Netanyahu because the alleged crimes took place in Ukraine and Palestine, two states who have explicitly accepted its jurisdiction.

    And Article 27 of the Rome Statute says the ICC can exercise jurisdiction over people with state immunity, although it’s debatable whether this must be first waived for leaders of states not party to the Rome Statute.

    Cooperation remains key

    The ICC is not only constrained by these complex legal questions, but also by the limited cooperation of states around the world.

    It relies on close cooperation with its 125 state parties, among others. But some states have been reluctant or even refused to cooperate with the court in executing the arrest warrants of controversial figures.

    For example, Putin was not arrested when he visited Mongolia, an ICC member, last year, in part, because Mongolia relies heavily on Russian energy. South Africa similarly refused to arrest Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir when he visited in 2015.

    Even when state parties do cooperate, the political fallout can impact the court’s reputation.

    Following Duterte’s arrest last week, a Filipino senator (the sister of the current president) launched an urgent investigation to ensure due process was followed and Duterte’s legal rights were upheld and protected. She acknowledged the arrest has “has deeply divided the nation”.

    The lack of support from the US – arguably, still the world’s most powerful democracy – remains a perennial problem, as well.

    While the US has generally supported the court’s mandate over the years, it has been wary of its jurisdiction over American citizens and those of its allies accused of crimes. Last month, President Donald Trump authorised new sanctions against ICC officials in an attempt to paralyse the international organisation.

    Although 79 states did declare their support for the ICC following the sanctions, the Trump adminstration’s rejection of the court’s jurisdiction, legitimacy and authority has had significant consequences for its operations.

    It remains to be seen how the case against Duterte will play out. Securing a conviction is not assured.

    However, his arrest demonstrates the court can fulfil its mandate and remain a relevant force in the fight against the gravest of crimes. It is also a significant moment for the families of those killed during Duterte’s rule, who have long sought justice for their loved ones.

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

    – ref. The ICC showed its might by arresting Rodrigo Duterte. Its reputation will take longer to fix – https://theconversation.com/the-icc-showed-its-might-by-arresting-rodrigo-duterte-its-reputation-will-take-longer-to-fix-252509

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese coast guard expels Japanese vessels for unlawfully entering waters of Diaoyu Dao

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2012 shows the Diaoyu Islands. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Between Friday and Monday, the China Coast Guard (CCG) expelled several Japanese fishing vessels that had unlawfully entered China’s territorial waters around Diaoyu Dao, according to a spokesperson for the CCG on Monday.
    In the process, the CCG vessels enforced necessary, lawful management and control measures against the Japanese vessels, and issued warnings to drive them out of the area, CCG spokesperson Liu Dejun said.
    Noting that Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China’s inherent territory, Liu urged the Japanese side to immediately cease all illegal activities in these waters.
    The CCG will continue to conduct regular law enforcement activities in the territorial waters of Diaoyu Dao, with the aim of safeguarding China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Liu said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump says he may ‘give a lot of countries breaks’ on tariffs

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. President Donald Trump attends an event celebrating the Greek Independence Day at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that he may “give a lot of countries breaks” on tariffs, as his April 2 deadline to impose “reciprocal tariffs” on U.S. trading partners draws closer.

    “I may give a lot of countries breaks, but it’s reciprocal,” Trump told reporters at the White House Monday afternoon.

    He noted that the European Union (EU) has agreed to lower car tariffs to 2.5 percent as part of a deal with the Trump administration.

    “We’ll be announcing some additional tariffs over the next few days, having to do with automobiles, cars, and having also to do a little bit with lumber down the road, lumber and chips,” Trump continued.

    “But for the most part, April 2 will be a big day, that will be reciprocal day, and we’ll be bringing some of the money back that’s been taken from us,” Trump said.

    Earlier in the day, Trump announced on social media that he’ll impose 25-percent tariff on any nation that purchases oil and/or gas from Venezuela, accusing the Latin American country of sending “tens of thousands of” criminals to the United States.

    When asked by a reporter whether the 25-percent tariff is “on top of existing tariffs,” Trump said “yes.”

    With key U.S. economic indicators showing concerning trends, economists and investors warn that the risk of a “Trumpcession” has grown due to unpredictable trade and economic policies.

    Earlier this month, Bruce Kasman, JPMorgan’s chief global economist, expressed heightened concerns about the U.S. economy. He told reporters in Singapore that the investment bank now estimates a 40 percent chance of a U.S. recession this year. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign brands benefit from China’s consumption stimulus

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

    SHANGHAI, March 25 — As millions of Chinese consumers trade in their devices for the latest models ranging from electric vehicles to home appliances, the rising consumer spending has benefited both Chinese and foreign brands.

    China kicked off large-scale equipment upgrade and consumer goods trade-in programs in March 2024, and revamped these programs earlier this year, amid efforts to boost domestic demand and spur economic growth.

    Prominent foreign brand, Tesla, has benefited from such programs in the sale of its revised Model Y.

    Earlier this month, on the first day of deliveries of the revised Model Y in east China’s Shanghai, more than 500 new vehicles were handed over to buyers, many of whom took advantage of China’s trade-in scheme.

    A resident in Shanghai surnamed Zhang, mentioned that by trading in his old gasoline car and taking advantage of consumption subsidies, he was able to purchase a revised Model Y for about 200,000 yuan (approximately 27,863 U.S. dollars). “The incentives from these subsidy programs are quite significant, which motivated me to place the order,” he said.

    Subsidies vary from place to place. In Guangdong Province in south China, for instance, consumers who buy new energy vehicles can receive subsidies of up to 20,000 yuan.

    Notably, apart from the government’s stimulus policy, Tesla has also taken steps to provide various car purchase incentives, including interest-free financing and insurance subsidy programs, to further lower costs for its customers.

    Foreign firms in the home appliance sector have also benefited from the government program. “The Chinese government’s consumption stimulus policies, including the trade-in program, have increased consumer spending. As a result, sales in Panasonic’s home appliance segment have grown,” Lin Yibin, managing officer of China & Northeast Asia Company of Panasonic Appliances (China) Co., Ltd, told Xinhua in an interview.

    Following the introduction of these policies, sales of Panasonic’s large home appliances from September to December last year, such as washing machines and refrigerators, especially in the offline market, have surpassed figures from the same period of 2023, Lin added.

    In early January this year, China announced a raft of measures to expand the scope of its consumer goods trade-in program. Under the expanded program, categories of home appliances eligible for government subsidies have been increased from eight in 2024 to 12 in 2025.

    “The revamped policy has sparked a surge in consumer spending on home appliances across the country. We are actively working with all parties to benefit from the new policy,” Lin noted.

    These subsidies have helped bring more coffee machines into Chinese homes. In places like Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hubei Province, coffee machines have been added to the list of items eligible for subsidies. De’Longhi, an Italian coffee machine supplier, has benefited from this initiative.

    “Last year, we saw double-digit growth, and since January of this year, we’ve maintained an even higher double-digit growth rate — largely thanks to the consumption stimulus policies,” said Zong Yanping, managing director of De’Longhi Greater China, in an interview with Xinhua.

    “Unlike large home appliances, which have long been essential in Chinese households, coffee machines are still relatively new to many families. Therefore, the purchasing subsidies have been very helpful for us in terms of marketing,” Zong explained.

    Zong is optimistic about China’s market potential, as the consumption stimulus coincided with a shift in coffee-drinking habits in the country, noting that “what began as an occasional social activity has become a morning routine for many young people today.”

    China’s large-scale equipment upgrade and consumer goods trade-in programs have so far yielded fruitful results. In 2024, it drove equipment purchases and investment up by 15.7 percent — contributing 67.6 percent to overall investment growth while boosting sales of bulk durable consumer goods by over 1.3 trillion yuan last year, according to data released by the National Development and Reform Commission in February.

    Vowing to make domestic demand “the main engine and anchor of economic growth,” China’s policymakers during this year’s “two sessions” sent fresh and firm signals regarding empowering the country’s vast number of consumers to spend more confidently.

    Following the 2025 “two sessions,” China vowed to implement solid support measures to connect consumer spending to people’s well-being in the latest consumption-promotion plan. The plan outlines the issuance of ultra-long special treasury bonds totaling 300 billion yuan to bolster consumer goods trade-in programs in 2025 — doubling the 2024 figure.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: BFA Annual Conference 2025 to open in Hainan

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

    BFA Annual Conference 2025 to open in Hainan

    Updated: March 25, 2025 09:13 Xinhua
    This photo taken on March 24, 2025 shows a view of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) International Conference Center in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province. With the theme “Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future,” the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 will be held from March 25 to 28 in Hainan. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A staff member works at the main venue for the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Journalists work at the press center of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why does my kid eat so well at childcare but not at home?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Fuller, Clinical Trials Director, Department of Endocrinology, RPA Hospital, University of Sydney

    Maria Symchych/Shutterstock

    If you’ve ever picked up your child from childcare and wondered if they’re living a double life, you’re not alone.

    Parents often receive rave reports from educators about kids’ adventurous eating habits, only to face a different reality at home, when the child who devoured a veggie-packed curry at lunchtime morphs into a fussy eater refusing anything but dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets.

    While this confusing behaviour is frustrating, it’s completely normal.

    Here’s why it happens and what you can do.

    How kids’ tastes and eating behaviour develops

    To understand why kids eat differently in different settings, we need first to understand two factors that shape their tastes and food preferences:

    1. Genetics. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors developed physiological responses for survival that are embedded in our genes and influence taste preferences from birth. These include developing “food fussiness” – a natural aversion to unfamiliar foods and bitter flavours to avoid ingesting toxins – and learning to seek palatable foods rich in natural sugars, fat and protein to avoid starvation.

    2. Eating environment. As kids grow, their surroundings at mealtimes – namely carers’ eating habits, feeding practices, routines and social cues conveyed – shape what they actually eat and enjoy.

    The interaction between these two factors drives how fussy kids will be, their likes and dislikes and how open they are to new foods.

    Why eating behaviour differs between childcare and home

    The simple reason kids may eat differently at childcare comes down to the eating environment. Here’s what typically makes childcare different to home:

    1. Childcare has strict routines

    Childcare runs to a strict schedule, teaching kids to expect meals and snacks at set times and places. Meals are also planned to ensure kids sit down to eat when they’re hungry, and food is offered for a limited time – factors that help kids focus on eating.

    When mealtimes are less structured at home, it often leads to kids snacking, reducing their appetite at dinnertime. Distractions, like screens, also take kids’ attention away from eating.

    2. Kids are exposed to peer influence and different role models

    Kids are natural copycats, so seeing friends enjoying healthy food makes them more willing to try it. This behaviour is supported by a study showing that seating a preschooler who dislikes a vegetable next to a peer who enjoys it can gradually shift their preference, leading them to eat the previously disliked vegetable.

    Additionally, the social nature of eating in a group setting encourages kids to try new foods and eat more.

    Research also shows carers – who are trained to model enthusiasm for nutritious foods – shape healthy eating habits and help kids learn other valuable behaviours like table manners.

    At home, time constraints and limited knowledge can make it harder for parents to model these same behaviours.

    3. Childcare regularly exposes kids to new foods

    At childcare, meals are carefully planned according to Australian Dietary Guidelines and are focused on exposing kids to new foods regularly and repeatedly to get them comfortable with different tastes and textures.

    At home, busy family lives often lead to repetitive meal routines.

    4. Kids are offered limited choices

    At childcare, meals are planned with military precision and served without negotiation, teaching kids to try to eat what’s provided.

    At home, mealtimes can involve high-stakes negotiations when kids refuse certain foods, leading parents to surrender and offer alternatives – a tactic that only reinforces fussy eating and teaches kids to hold out for favourite foods.

    5. Kids are given some control over what they eat

    Kids have very little control over their daily lives – we’re constantly telling them what to do and when they’ll do it.

    However, one way kids assert control is by refusing to eat certain foods at home.

    Childcare cleverly gives kids the control they seek, encouraging them to serve themselves from shared platters, making them more willing to try new foods.

    6. Kids experience less attention and pressure

    At home, we naturally focus on what our child is eating (and not eating) which makes mealtimes stressful for kids.

    At childcare, kids don’t have an audience watching their every bite, so they feel less pressure, eat more freely and are more willing to try different foods.



    Read more:
    5 picky eating habits – and how to help your child overcome them

    Six ways to bring childcare eating habits home

    1. Stick to a strict routine

    Serve meals around the same time each day and establish snack times, ensuring they’re two hours before mealtimes so your child sits down hungry and ready to eat. Your routine should include putting devices away so your child’s full attention is on eating.

    2. Be a positive role model

    Because kids observe and mimic what they see, if you show enthusiasm for trying new foods and healthy eating your child will do the same.

    3. Get creative

    Take a leaf out of childcare’s book and ensure your child’s plate features different colours, textures and flavours presented in fun ways to capture and hold their interest in new foods.

    And just like childcare, do this regularly, as repeated exposure is key – it can take eight to ten exposures before your child will accept eating a new food.

    4. Limit food choices (but in a fun way)

    Offer limited choices but in a way that gives your child some control, like serving platter-style meals where they can choose what they want.

    Don’t give into food demands. While it’s tempting to offer alternatives when meals are refused, this creates more problems than it solves, reinforcing food fussiness and narrowing their diet.

    5. Encourage independence

    Actively involve your child in meal preparation, asking them to pick healthy recipes, help you shop and complete simple tasks like washing veggies and mixing ingredients. This can make them curious to taste the meal they’ve helped prepare.

    6. Make mealtimes stress-free

    Prioritise sitting down to eat as a family and ensure mealtimes are relaxed and fun – especially when you’re introducing new foods – to create positive associations with healthy eating.

    Nick Fuller is the author of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids – a clinically proven blueprint to overcoming food fussiness.

    A/Professor Nick Fuller works for the University of Sydney and RPA Hospital and has received external funding for projects relating to the treatment of overweight and obesity. He is the author and founder of the Interval Weight Loss program, and the author of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids with Penguin Books.

    – ref. Why does my kid eat so well at childcare but not at home? – https://theconversation.com/why-does-my-kid-eat-so-well-at-childcare-but-not-at-home-247447

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Nerve-wracking twists, remarkable stardom and jet-black comedy: the 5 best films of the 2025 French Film Festival

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben McCann, Associate Professor of French Studies, University of Adelaide

    The Divine Sarah Bernhardt.
     Memento

    This year’s Alliance Française French Film Festival showcases a diverse selection of films from blockbusters and biopics to comedies and gripping thrillers for Australian audiences.

    I’ve written before about how this annual event, now in its 36th edition, is, in terms of tickets sold and films screened, the largest film festival dedicated to contemporary French cinema outside of France.

    The 2025 program once more shines a spotlight on the established icons and rising stars of French cinema.

    In the this year’s festival, 30% of the films are directed by women and thorny issues such as slavery, consent and caregiving are presented sensitively and provocatively.

    But from a competitive bunch, here are the best five films I saw this year.

    How To Make A Killing

    It’s Christmas in the Jura, France’s picturesque eastern region full of mountains, snow and pine trees. When Michel (Frank Dubosc) accidentally crashes his truck into a car, killing its driver and passenger, his wife Cathy (Laure Calamy) tells him he may have left fingerprints at the crime scene.

    They return – and discover two million euros in the car boot, and a loaded gun in the glove box.

    From this point on, How To Make A Killing features one improbable but amusingly nerve-wracking twist after another. There’s a local policeman in over his head and drug lords and contract killers who want their money back.

    Oh, and a black bear is on the loose.

    Writer-director Dubosc pays homage to the Coen brothers and sprinkles in a typically Gallic dose of black humour. What really gives the film zip and pizzazz is the fabulous Calamy. She has risen to the apex of contemporary French stardom and her performance is a delight.

    The Divine Sarah Bernhardt

    Sarah Bernhardt can lay claim to being the first film celebrity. Born in Paris in 1844, Bernhardt was first a legendary stage actress, performing Shakespeare and Racine across the world (including Melbourne and Sydney in 1891) before gravitating to silent cinema.

    Known for her extraordinary talent and intense stage presence (hence “divine”), she refused to play just female roles, famously playing Hamlet. Her eccentricity was equally renowned: she often travelled with an extensive menagerie of exotic pets.

    Guillaume Nicloux’s sumptuous biopic unfolds in a radical way. Rather than tracing Bernhardt’s career in the fairly bog-standard biopic way, Nicloux jumps around, focusing on key events from her life – the amputation of a leg, her death, her bisexuality, her hedonistic lifestyle.

    Through this bold achronological prism comes another daring choice: we never see Bernhardt act on stage or film. Her stardom emerges through the extraordinary effect she has on people who enter her orbit.

    At the centre is a remarkable performance by Sandrine Kiberlain. She captures Bernhardt’s glamour and narcissism but also taps into her vulnerability to reveal her gradual hollowing out as the vagaries of fame take their toll.

    It’s a cautionary tale that speaks to our current ambivalence towards stage-managed celebrity and “stardom at all costs”.

    My Brother’s Band

    Ever since its Cannes debut last May, Emmanuel Courcol’s My Brother’s Band has received rave reviews. It is sure to be an instant classic.

    Two brothers are separated at birth and are only reunited decades later when Thibaut (Benjamin Lavernhe) needs a bone marrow transplant. The only suitable donor is long-lost Jimmy (rising star Pierre Lottin).

    All that bonds the two is a shared love of music. Thibaut is an esteemed orchestra conductor while Jimmy plays the trombone in a local brass band.

    Lavernhe’s and Lottin’s scenes together are wonderfully wry and tender as the two brothers learn to appreciate each other’s lifestyles and ways of seeing the world. We also see how music can bind communities together during times of personal and collective crisis.

    Courcol shuttles between the stuffy, cathedral-like spaces of a Paris conservatorium and the cramped parish halls of northern France. Think Brassed Off meets Tár. My Brother’s Band brings the feel-good to the festival.

    When Fall is Coming

    When Fall is Coming, the latest work by prolific auteur François Ozon, is a broody family drama set in Burgundy.

    Behind the autumnal landscapes and off-the-beaten-track villages lies hidden trauma. Michelle (the outstanding Hélène Vincent, now 81) nervously awaits the arrival of her grandson and the daughter from whom she is long estranged (for reasons we don’t understand until much later).

    An innocuous first night meal turns to tragedy, and kickstarts a deeply engrossing, often menacing film. Pierre Lottin features again, this time as an ex-con slowly drawn into this unsettling web of secrets and lies.

    The “fall” in the title can be read any number of ways. Suffice to say, this slow-burner reminds us of Ozon’s knack in withholding plot points and revealing them gradually. With its blend of spiteful intimacy and startling revelations, When Fall is Coming quietly chills. You’ll not look at mushrooms in the same way again.

    Lucky Winners

    French filmgoers love to laugh. The top ten grossing French films in history are all comedies.

    Lucky Winners is a jet-black comedy about four different winners of France’s national lottery. Each becomes a millionaire overnight – but that’s when their troubles begin. Romain Choay and Maxime Govare’s witty film features a fine ensemble cast and a healthy dose of cruelty and squabbling.

    The dream sours. Money does not bring happiness, only guilt, revenge and greed. Feel-good quickly descends into feel-bad. I imagine Hollywood will be remaking this very soon.

    The Alliance Française French Film Festival is in cinemas around Australia on various dates until April 27.

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

    – ref. Nerve-wracking twists, remarkable stardom and jet-black comedy: the 5 best films of the 2025 French Film Festival – https://theconversation.com/nerve-wracking-twists-remarkable-stardom-and-jet-black-comedy-the-5-best-films-of-the-2025-french-film-festival-250153

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 25 March 2025 Joint News Release Decades of progress in reducing child deaths and stillbirths under threat, warns the United Nations

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The number of children dying globally before their fifth birthday declined to 4.8 million in 2023, while stillbirths declined modestly, still remaining around 1.9 million, according to two new reports released today by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME).

    Since 2000, child deaths have dropped by more than half and stillbirths by over a third, fuelled by sustained investments in child survival worldwide. In 2022, the world reached a historic milestone when child deaths dropped slightly below 5 million for the first time. However, progress has slowed and too many children are still being lost to preventable causes.

    “Millions of children are alive today because of the global commitment to proven interventions, such as vaccines, nutrition, and access to safe water and basic sanitation,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Bringing preventable child deaths to a record low is a remarkable achievement. But without the right policy choices and adequate investment, we risk reversing these hard-earned gains, with millions more children dying from preventable causes. We cannot allow that to happen.”

    Decades of progress in child survival are now at risk as major donors have announced or indicated significant funding cuts to aid ahead. Reduced global funding for life-saving child survival programmes is causing health-care worker shortages, clinic closures, vaccination programme disruptions, and a lack of essential supplies, such as malaria treatments. These cuts are severely impacting regions in humanitarian crises, debt-stricken countries, and areas with already high child mortality rates. Global funding cuts could also undermine monitoring and tracking efforts, making it harder to reach the most vulnerable children, the Inter-agency Group warned.

    “From tackling malaria to preventing stillbirths and ensuring evidence-based care for the tiniest babies, we can make a difference for millions of families,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “In the face of global funding cuts, there is a need more than ever to step up collaboration to protect and improve children’s health.”

    Even before the current funding crisis, the pace of progress on child survival had already slowed. Since 2015, the annual rate of reduction of under-five mortality has slowed by 42%, and stillbirth reduction has slowed by 53%, compared to 2000–2015.

    Almost half of under-five deaths happen within the first month of life, mostly due to premature birth and complications during labour. Beyond the newborn period, infectious diseases, including acute respiratory infections such as pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhoea, are the leading causes of preventable child death. Meanwhile, 45% of late stillbirths occur during labour, often due to maternal infections, prolonged or obstructed labour, and lack of timely medical intervention.

    Better access to quality maternal, newborn, and child health care at all levels of the health system will save many more lives, according to the reports. This includes promotive and preventive care in communities, timely visits to health facilities and health professionals at birth, high-quality antenatal and postnatal care, well-child preventive care such as routine vaccinations and comprehensive nutrition programmes, diagnosis and treatment for common childhood illnesses, and specialized care for small and sick newborns.

    “Most preventable child deaths occur in low-income countries, where essential services, vaccines, and treatments are often inaccessible”, said Juan Pablo Uribe, World Bank Global Director for Health and Director of the Global Financing Facility. “Investing in children’s health ensures their survival, education, and future contributions to the workforce. With strategic investments and strong political will, we can continue to reduce child mortality, unlocking economic growth and employment opportunities that benefit the entire world.”

    The reports also show that where a child is born greatly influences their chances of survival. The risk of death before age five is 80 times higher in the highest-mortality country than the lowest-mortality country, for example, while a child born in sub-Saharan Africa is on average 18 times more likely to die before turning five than one born in Australia and New Zealand. Within countries, the poorest children, those living in rural areas, and those with less-educated mothers face the higher risks.

    Stillbirth disparities are just as severe, with nearly 80% occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, where women are six to eight times more likely to experience a stillbirth than women in Europe or North America. Meanwhile, women in low-income countries are eight times more likely to experience a stillbirth than those in high-income countries.

    “Disparities in child mortality across and within nations remain one of the greatest challenges of our time,” said the UN DESA Under-Secretary-General, Li Junhua. “Reducing such differences is not just a moral imperative but also a fundamental step towards sustainable development and global equity. Every child deserves a fair chance at life, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that no child is left behind.”

    UN IGME members call on governments, donors, and partners across the private and public sectors to protect the hard-won gains in saving children’s lives and accelerate efforts. Increased investments, service integration, and innovations are urgently needed to scale up access to proven life-saving health, nutrition, and social protection services for children and pregnant mothers.    

    Notes to editors

    Download multimedia content here.

    The UN IGME child mortality report The UN IGME stillbirth report

    The two reports – Levels & Trends in Child Mortality and Counting Every Stillbirth – are the first of a series of important global data sets released in 2025. UN maternal mortality figures will be published in the coming weeks.

    About UN IGME

    The United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation or UN IGME was formed in 2004 to share data on child mortality, improve methods for child mortality estimation, report on progress towards child survival goals and enhance the capacity of countries to produce timely and properly evaluated estimates of child mortality. UN IGME is led by UNICEF and includes the World Health Organization, the World Bank Group and the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

     For more information: 

    http://www.childmortality.org/

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash: Mangaharakeke Drive, Horotiu

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police can confirm one person has died following a crash on Mangaharakeke Drive/ State Highway 1C, Horotiu this morning.

    The two-vehicle crash was reported at around 11am.

    Sadly, the driver of one vehicle died at the scene.

    No further injuries were reported.

    The road remains closed southbound near the Te Rapa Road off-ramp while the Serious Crash Unit conduct a scene examination.

    Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Exercise of any kind boosts brainpower at any age

    Source:

    25 March 2025

    Whether it’s an early morning jog, or a touch of Tai Chi, groundbreaking research from the University of South Australia shows that any form of exercise can significantly boost brain function and memory across children, adults, and older adults.

    In the largest, most comprehensive umbrella review to date, researchers found that regular exercise improves general cognition, memory, and executive function in both healthy individuals and those with clinical conditions, reinforcing exercise as an essential, inclusive activity for optimising cognitive health.

    Synthesising findings from 133 systematic reviews, covering 2724 randomised controlled trials and 258,279 participants, the systematic umbrella and meta-meta-analysis found that:

    • low- to moderate-intensity exercise had the greatest benefits for brain function and memory
    • children and adolescents showed the greatest improvements in memory, while people with ADHD saw the biggest gains in executive function
    • yoga, Tai Chi, and exergames (active video games) delivered the most significant cognitive benefits.

    Lead researcher, UniSA’s Dr Ben Singh, says the findings provide a comprehensive understanding of how different types, intensities, and durations of exercise influence cognitive function.

    “Exercise has a profound effect on physical health, but we also know it benefits brain function. What this study confirms is that even low-intensity exercise – like yoga or walking – can improve cognition, making it accessible to people of all ages and abilities,” Dr Singh says.

    “In particular, we found that benefits were delivered quickly – with clear gains within 1-3 months, highlighting that even small bursts of activity can make a big difference. It also signals that trying out new activities could play a key role in keeping the brain engaged and active.

    “For children and teens, exercise was especially beneficial for developing memory, while for people with ADHD, it helped improve focus, reduce impulsivity, and enhance executive function.

    “We also found that mind-body exercises, like Tai Chi and yoga, had the most significant impact on memory, while exergames – such as Pokémon Go – were highly effective for general cognition. This is an encouraging finding, as it suggests that engaging, low-impact activities can offer real cognitive benefits.”

    Senior researcher, Professor Carol Maher says exercise should be encouraged as a cognitive health strategy across all ages and fitness levels.

    “Cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases are growing global health concerns, underscoring the urgent need to identify effective strategies to preserve and enhance cognitive function across the lifespan,” Prof Maher says.

    “This study presents compelling evidence that exercise should be integrated into healthcare and education settings to promote cognitive well-being.

    “Knowing that even small amounts of exercise can improve memory and brain function – especially for those at higher risk – presents a clear opportunity for exercise to be included in clinical and public health guidelines.”

    The University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide are joining forces to become Australia’s new major university – Adelaide University. Building on the strengths, legacies and resources of two leading universities, Adelaide University will deliver globally relevant research at scale, innovative, industry-informed teaching and an outstanding student experience. Adelaide University will open its doors in January 2026. Find out more on the Adelaide University website.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Contacts for interview:  Dr Ben Singh E: Ben.Singh@unisa.edu.au
    Prof Carol Maher E: Carol.Maher@unisa.edu.au 
    Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Final chance to feedback on Auckland Council’s Annual Plan

    Source: Auckland Council

    Aucklanders are encouraged to feed back on Auckland Council’s proposed Annual Plan 2025/2026, before consultation closes on Friday.

    Consultation on the plan closes at 11.59pm on Friday 28 March and all Aucklanders are invited to have their say on the council’s plans for the year ahead.

    The plan focuses on delivering the second year of the Long-term Plan 2024-2034 and the consultation includes an opportunity to feedback on the funding of events and destination marketing, and the priorities of local boards.

    Mayor Wayne Brown says this is the best time for Aucklanders to speak up and have their say on what the council has planned.

    “We want to know what the community thinks of where council is spending their money.  This includes whether they’re keen on a bed night levy to fund major international events, like SailGP, bringing the America’s Cup back to Auckland, concerts like Coldplay and sports events like NRL matches and the ASB tennis classic.

    “These events are important to many, and I do support these events taking place.  We need to hear from the most important people, and that’s Aucklanders. This is the best time to give us your feedback as it will inform the council’s decisions and tell us if we’ve got it right.

    “My message to Aucklanders is simple. It’s your money, so have your say.”

    Auckland Council group chief financial officer Ross Tucker says the Annual Plan is about getting on with what was agreed in the Long-term Plan, including strengthening Auckland both financially and physically, while investing where it is needed most to manage growth.

    “We are prioritising investment in transport, water and fairer funding for local communities,” says Mr Tucker. “There are no significant changes to services or investment levels proposed, compared with what is in the Long-term Plan, and we want to check in with all Aucklanders to make sure plans are still on the right track.”

    So what’s in the draft Annual Plan?

    The plan sets out the council’s proposed services and investments for the coming year and how Auckland Council intends to pay for these, including a 5.8 per cent rates increase for the average value residential property, which is in line with the Long-term Plan.

    Feedback is also sought on major events and destination marketing for the region. To help cover a shortfall in funding that was outlined in the Long-term Plan, the council wants a bed night visitor levy.

    “A bed night visitor levy could help raise $27 million. That would meet the shortfall and fund even more destination management, marketing and major events activities in Auckland,” says Mr Tucker.

    A fairer funding approach will begin to be phased in for the Annual Plan 2025/2026 to enable local boards to better respond to their communities, by addressing funding imbalances between the 21 local boards.

    Each local board’s priorities for the year are included in the Consultation Document.

    Local boards provide a wide range of services such as local parks, libraries, pools, community facilities, and local art and environment activities, along with community events.

    There are some proposed changes to targeted rates, fees and charges – including refuse collection being rolled out in North Shore, Waitākere and Papakura, and targeted rates for refuse in Franklin and Rodney. There are also some changes for fees relating to additional council services, such as dog adoption, cemetery and cremation, and bach fees.

    The Annual Plan 2025/2026 Consultation Document for feedback is available online at akhaveyoursay.nz/ourplan.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Multinational CEOs flock to China for business opportunities

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

    This photo taken on March 23, 2025 shows the Symposium on Macro Policies and Economic Growth of the China Development Forum 2025 in Beijing, capital of China. The China Development Forum 2025 is scheduled from March 23 to 24. The theme of this year’s forum is “Unleashing Development Momentum for Stable Growth of Global Economy.” [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, March 24 — Heads of some 80 multinationals including Siemens, Apple, Samsung and Pfizer have flocked to China to seek new cooperation opportunities with the world’s second-largest economy.

    The transnational corporate chiefs were present at the China Development Forum 2025 in Beijing, scheduled from March 23 to 24. The annual event, hosted by the Development Research Center of China’s State Council, has become an important platform of dialogue for the Chinese government, global businesses, academia, and international organizations.

    China will continue to welcome enterprises from around the world with open arms, further expand market access, actively address the concerns of businesses, and facilitate the deeper integration of foreign-funded enterprises into the Chinese market, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the forum.

    Prior to the forum, British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca signed a landmark 2.5-billion-U.S. dollar agreement on Friday to invest in Beijing over the next five years, the largest single investment in Beijing’s biopharmaceutical sector in recent years.

    Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will establish a global strategic R&D center in Beijing, its sixth worldwide and second in China after one in Shanghai. The new center, equipped with an advanced artificial intelligence and data science laboratory, will accelerate early-stage drug research and clinical development.

    “The investment highlights our confidence in Beijing’s world-class life sciences innovation ecosystem, extensive collaborative opportunities, and exceptional talent pool,” AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said in an interview with Xinhua.

    In 2024, BMW delivered over 100,000 battery electric vehicles to customers in China for the first time, making China its strongest single market for electric vehicles.

    The company is committed to expanding its investment in China and accelerating the localization of production as well as research and development, said Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW AG, in a meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.

    Zipse also noted that there are only losers and no winners in a tariff war. The company firmly opposes the EU imposing additional tariffs on Chinese EVs and hopes that both the EU and China can properly resolve their differences, he said.

    At a symposium of the forum, Zipse said he was impressed by the AI Plus initiative in China’s government work report this year, and that BMW is working with Chinese sci-tech leaders to apply generative AI and large language model technologies into its vehicles.

    Miguel Lopez, CEO of Thyssenkrupp AG, an industrial conglomerate, said China is not only one of the largest markets, but also the country with the most comprehensive industrial chain and supply chain in the world, as well as a good logistics system.

    Thyssenkrupp will continue to strengthen supply chain management in China and establish good relationships with local suppliers, which will not only reduce its costs and improves its resilience, but also improves its performance on global markets, Lopez said.

    Lim Boon Heng, chairman of Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, said he truly feels during his visit the growing innovation and vitality of the Chinese market and the improved business environment.

    Noting China has become one of Temasek’s most important investment destinations, he said Temasek is full of confidence in the long-term prospects of the Chinese economy and will continue to deepen its presence in the Chinese market.

    For Otis, the elevator industry leader has benefited from China’s rapid urbanization over the past few decades.

    Judy Marks, CEO of Otis Worldwide Corporation, said the country still offers great opportunities in the future, and compared with decades ago, China is no longer just a production base and sales market, but also a research and development base for elevators.

    “I think most of the world will not only want to partner with China but also strengthen economic relations with China,” said Jeffrey Sachs, an economics professor at Columbia University.

    Official data has shown that China remains a top destination for transnational investment. Some 60,000 foreign-invested companies were established in China in 2024 alone, a 9.9 percent year-on-year increase. The return rate of FDI in China has remained at approximately 9 percent over the past five years, ranking among the highest around the world.

    This year’s government work report notes that China will encourage foreign investors to increase their reinvestment in the country, and it will ensure equal treatment for foreign-funded enterprises in fields such as production factor access, license applications, standards setting and government procurement.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AG Brown joins 20 other AGs to petition a federal judge to prevent shutdown of the Department of Education

    Source: Washington State News

    OLYMPIA — Attorney General Nick Brown today joined a coalition of 21 state attorneys general in filing a motion for a preliminary injunction as part of their lawsuit to stop President Donald Trump’s unlawful attempt to dismantle the Department of Education.

    On March 13, the attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after it announced plans to eliminate half of the Department’s workforce. Following a March 20 executive order directing the closure and President Trump’s March 21 announcement that the Department must “immediately” transfer student loan management and special education services outside of the Department, the attorneys general now seek a court order to immediately stop the mass layoffs and transfer of services not approved by Congress.

    “The devastating cuts and layoffs at the Department of Education will directly harm Washington’s youth and their families,” Brown said. “Our office will fight to defend the education and health of our students from President Trump’s illegal order.” 

    The attorneys general assert the Trump administration’s attacks on the Department have already had serious consequences for families and students throughout the country, including in Washington state. Mass staff layoffs led to the closure of its Office of Civil Rights outreach throughout the country, which protects students from discrimination and sexual assault. Federal approval of state programs is already delayed, and critical funding for state school systems will likely be delayed.

    States rely on billions of dollars every year in funding for elementary and secondary education, services for children with disabilities, vocational education, adult education and other crucial services. All of these programs will be severely disrupted if the administration’s cuts are not stopped.

    Brown and the other attorneys general assert that the Trump administration’s attacks on the Department are illegal and unconstitutional. It is an executive branch agency authorized by Congress, with laws that guide its various programs and funding streams. The coalition’s lawsuit asserts that the executive branch does not have the legal authority to unilaterally dismantle the Department without an act of Congress. In addition, the attorneys general argue that Department’s mass layoffs violate the Administrative Procedures Act.

    Joining Attorney General Brown in filing today’s motion are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

    The motion can be found here.

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Charges laid following hunting incident, Whakatane

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One person has been arrested after the death of a man following a hunting incident in Minginui, Whakatane last week.

    Police were notified at about 2am on Friday 21 March of a sudden death following a hunting incident.

    Police can confirm the man who died was 72-year-old Stuart Maxwell Stobie, from Kawerau.

    Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

    A 46-year-old man is due to appear in the Rotorua District Court today, charged with manslaughter, unlawful hunting and unlawful possession of a firearm.

    Mr Stobie’s death has been referred to the Coroner.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release: Fatal crash, Woodville

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police are now in a position to release the name of the woman who died in a crash on Saddle Road, Woodville on 3 March.

    She was 46-year-old Kelly King, of Woodville.

    Our thoughts are with her friends and family at this difficult time.

    The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Law Partners Launches Compensation Uncovered: A New Video Series to help Mining Industry Workers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Compensation Uncovered is the show that lifts the lid on the world of personal injury claims.

    SYDNEY, March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Law Partners, Australia’s largest specialist personal injury firm, has introduced an innovative online video series, Compensation Uncovered.

    Series One – now live – is focused on total and permanent disablement (TPD) claims, a type of lump sum payout that may be available to mining employees in addition to workers compensation payments when they’re unable to return to work following injury or illness.

    Click here to view Compensation Uncovered: https://lawpartners.com.au/compensation-uncovered-podcast

    Common mining injury claims can include slips, trips and falls, lifting and back injuries, hazardous materials exposure, machinery and equipment accidents, hearing loss and lung diseases.

    Navigating the legal system can be particularly challenging for those recovering from workplace injuries or illnesses. Compensation Uncovered aims to bridge the gap between mining or resources work and the often-complex world of personal injury claims, offering clear, accessible, and engaging content to help viewers understand their rights and entitlements.

    Series One of Compensation Uncovered covers essential TPD topics such as types of injuries or illnesses, payout amounts, typical do’s and don’ts around making claims, expert insights, and real customer stories.

    Presented by Law Partners TPD Practice Group Leader Lydia Wheatly and Law Partners Principal Shane Butcher, Series One equips mining and resource workers with the knowledge they need to make successful TPD claims.

    Shane Butcher explains, “We recognised a gap in the market for interview-style video content that’s not only professional and informative but also relatable and easy to follow. Compensation Uncovered is our way of demystifying the world of personal injury claims, making the legal process less mysterious and more accessible to everyone. We want to help mining professionals understand their rights and navigate the compensation claims process with more confidence.”

    Chantille Khoury, Law Partners Principal, adds, “Our goal with Compensation Uncovered is to provide our community with valuable insights and practical tips, illustrated through real-life cases and customer stories. People enjoy video and podcast-style content when researching a topic, so our new series offers this format in addition to our existing library of articles, guides, and videos. More than anything, we hope to make the legal process even more transparent and less intimidating, especially during what can be a very stressful time following a workplace injury or illness.”

    Future series of Compensation Uncovered will delve into other areas of personal injury compensation, including motor vehicle accident claims, workers compensation, public liability matters, and medical negligence cases. Each episode is delivered in a straightforward, down-to-earth manner by a range of practice group leaders and senior lawyers at Law Partners, free from the confusing legal jargon that often accompanies such topics.

    Law Partners is committed to a more personal approach to client care, ensuring clients receive all the compensation they deserve and are entitled to. With its no win, no fee, and no disbursements (or case costs) guarantee, along with a 99% success rate, Law Partners continues to set new standards in the industry.

    To stay updated with the latest episodes and insights from Compensation Uncovered, follow Law Partners on YouTube via @lawpartners, on Facebook and Instagram at @lawpartnersau, or search for Law Partners on LinkedIn. Keep an eye on our social media channels and podcast feeds for more customer stories, payout examples, and expert legal advice.

    About Law Partners

    Law Partners is more than just Australia’s largest specialist personal injury firm. We’re a team of dedicated lawyers, paralegals and legal assistants who believe in personal service, asking more questions, and building deeper relationships to understand the true impact of injuries and illness. Our client-focused approach, combined with our legal expertise, has resulted in a case success rate of over 99%, more than 1,200 5-star Google reviews, consistent Doyle’s Guide awards and recognition, and the honour of being named Lawyer Monthly’s Australian Personal Injury Law Firm of the Year for three consecutive years (2022 to 2024).

    For more information or to arrange a media interview, visit Law Partners or contact Charlotte O’Brien at 02 9264 4474 or charlotte.obrien@lawpartners.com.au

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Remuera Library to re-open following restoration work

    Source: Auckland Council

    Remuera Library will reopen to the public on 10 April, 2025, following restoration and refurbishment work, making it once again a place for locals to enjoy a good book and connect with friends.

    For the duration of the works, the library’s services were relocated to Somervell Presbyterian Church, 497 Remuera Road and library services will continue to run here until and including 26 March.

    Ōrākei Local Board chair Scott Milne says he’s thrilled that an enhanced Remuera Library will be back up and running.

    “The heritage building has been enhanced with important remedial and strengthening work, for future generations to use and enjoy.

    “Cosmetic upgrades, both inside and out, add to the architectural aesthetic of the building and gives even more reasons for locals to be proud of their library.”

    “Dozens of locals use the Remuera Library every day and I’m delighted that this space many people love and value so much, has been upgraded.”

    “The library is not just about books. It is a social hub for Remuera and an activation point for a range of community and digital services.”

    Somervell Presbyterian Church kindly allowed the library to operate at an alternative location for the duration of the works, with funding support from the Ōrākei Local Board. Many of the library’s regular programmes continued at this site, and events including Diwali and Lunar New Year were held.

    “The library team feel extremely fortunate to have been part of the wider Somervell community where we were warmly welcomed from the start,” says Sue Jackson, Library Manager.

    “We have formed new friendships with church staff and welcomed new families to enjoy our library services.”

    Remuera Library will re-open on 10 April, 2025 following restoration and refurbishment work.

    The building

    Essential repairs, maintenance and enhancement works were completed during the renewal programme. These included fire safety enhancements, emergency lighting upgrades, accessibility enhancements, seismic strengthening to meet legal requirements, roof and exterior repairs and an interior cosmetic refresh including painting and recarpeting.

    Remuera Library, which opened in 1926, is a Category 1 heritage listed building on the Heritage New Zealand Register and is listed on the Auckland Council Schedule of Historic Heritage as a category A building.

    The library was identified as earthquake-prone, with a seismic score of 15% of the New Building Standard (15% NBS). This score indicates that the library’s earthquake safety risk is relatively very high compared to a new building.

    Taryn Crewe, General Manager Parks and Community Facilities says the restoration work carried out on the library is important as it will increase the life-span of the building to ensure this much-loved asset able to be used by Aucklanders for many years to come.

    “Remuera Library is a key building of cultural and historic significance. Restoration, including strengthening work was needed to protect and preserve this well used heritage building.

    “I’m pleased the works have been completed months ahead of time so the locals can use their much-loved library sooner than expected.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Seeks Court Order to Block Mass Firings, Transfer of Core Functions from Department of Education

    Source: US State of California

    Cites immediate and potentially devastating harms to California schools and students 

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today led a multistate coalition in filing a motion for a preliminary injunction to prevent the Trump Administration’s mass firing of U.S. Department of Education employees and the transfer of core statutory functions to other departments. These actions will devastate the Department of Education’s ability to meet its statutory obligations across numerous programs — direct funding for K-12 education, student aid, services for students with disabilities, civil rights enforcement, vocational training, and more. California schools alone receive $7.9 billion annually from the Department of Education, and these schools have already reported impacts and disruptions to their ability to provide public education to California’s children as a result of these actions. As such, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that the actions violate the Administrative Procedures Act, are unconstitutional, and should be enjoined while litigation continues.

    “California receives billions of dollars each year from the U.S. Department of Education. The programs and initiatives these funds support help ensure all our children have access to a high-quality public education and are able to learn in a safe, healthy environment,” said Attorney General Bonta. “All of this is at risk with the Trump Administration’s mass firing of Department employees and outsourcing of core statutory functions like the administration of federal student loans. President Trump has made no secret of his desire to shut down the Department of Education for good – and we know that these actions are just a step toward that end goal. But as his own administration has acknowledged, he lacks the authority to unilaterally do so. I respectfully ask the court to block the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education from within while our litigation continues.”

    On March 11, the Department of Education initiated a mass termination impacting nearly 50% of the Department’s employees, as part of the Trump Administration’s “final mission” to dismantle the Department. The mass firings were not accompanied by any reasoning to explain why these employees — and indeed, some whole teams — were targeted. The rationale is nevertheless clear — the Trump Administration believes the Department should not exist and is using these firings as a tool in furtherance of that goal. President Trump’s directive last week for Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to dismantle the Department is further evidence that the firings are part of a broader effort to undermine the Department’s ability to carry out its most vital, congressionally-mandated functions. These steps including transferring the administration of federal student loans to the Small Business Administration, which recently fired 40% of its workers, and of special needs and nutritional programs to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

    The U.S. Department of Education provides $7.9 billion annually in federal funding to more than 9,000 public schools across California – serving 5.8 million students. This includes funding for Title I to support low-income families, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds and support for students with disabilities, school lunch programs, services to families living on military bases and Indian reservations, and post-secondary financial aid. Already, the mass firings have led to the closure of seven regional offices of the Office for Civil Rights, including the one in San Francisco, leaving 1,500 pending cases, including open investigations, cases in mediation, resolved cases under monitoring, and complaints under research by staff, in limbo. 

    It is clear that the mass firing of nearly 50% of all Department of Education employees will make it impossible for the Department to meet its current obligations under federal law, violating the separation of powers and the Executive Branch’s obligation to take care that the law is faithfully executed, and exceeding the Department’s authority under the law in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act. Given the immediate and potentially devastating harm that these firings and subsequent transfer of core programs could cause to California’s schools and children, Attorney General Bonta, along with the coalition, respectfully asks the court to grant a preliminary injunction while the states’ litigation continues.  

    Attorney General Bonta is leading this lawsuit with Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. They are joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.

    A copy of the motion is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Stats NZ information release: Regional gross domestic product: Year ended March 2024

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Regional gross domestic product: Year ended March 2024 – 25 March 2025 – Regional gross domestic product (GDP) is a geographic breakdown of national-level GDP, which is New Zealand’s official measure of economic activity. Figures are expressed in nominal terms, which means they are not adjusted for price effects.

    Files:

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: China willing to expand all-round cooperation with ADB: Chinese premier

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

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, March 24 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda on Monday in Beijing, expressing willingness to further expand all-round cooperation between China and the ADB.

    Li said in recent years, affected by geopolitical turbulence and rising protectionism, the world economy has recovered slowly with increased instability and uncertainty.

    Li called on Asian countries to strengthen solidarity and coordination, adhere to multilateralism, advance regional economic integration, break down barriers to the flow of trade, investment and technology, and maintain the stability and smooth flow of industrial and supply chains.

    At the same time, all sides should strengthen macro policy coordination, deepen exchanges and cooperation in science and technology innovation, enhance the efficiency and resilience of the Asian economy, better withstand various risks, and join hands to achieve common development, Li added.

    Noting that the ADB is an important multilateral development institution in the Asia-Pacific region, Li said China is ready to further expand all-round cooperation with the ADB, push the partnership to a new level, better achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and provide more public goods for the region.

    The premier said both sides should strengthen financial cooperation in such fields as environmental protection, green and low-carbon development, elderly care and medical care, and deepen knowledge cooperation in such fields as the development of emerging industries, fiscal and tax system reform, and aging response.

    China is ready to share its useful experience in poverty reduction and digital economy with other developing members in the Asia-Pacific to support them in better meeting challenges and achieving sustainable development, said Li.

    Kanda said at a time when international trade is increasingly fragmented, China is committed to further deepening reform and high-level opening-up, which not only achieves steady growth of its own economy, but also makes important contributions to economic growth in Asia and the world at large.

    ADB attaches great importance to cooperation with China, and is willing to take the 40th anniversary of cooperative ties as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with China in knowledge innovation, green development and other fields, promote the development of the Asia-Pacific region, and push the cooperative partnership between both sides to a higher level.

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: IMPOSING TARIFFS ON COUNTRIES IMPORTING VENEZUELAN OIL

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-left”>By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and in view of the national emergency declared with respect to Venezuela in Executive Order 13692 of March 8, 2015 (Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela), as continued most recently in the notice of February 27, 2025 (Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Venezuela), I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, find that the actions and policies of the regime of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  The activities of the Tren de Aragua gang, a transnational criminal organization originating in Venezuela and designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization, have intensified this threat, as highlighted in Proclamation 10903 of March 14, 2025 (Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of the United States by Tren De Aragua).  Furthermore, Venezuela’s ongoing destabilizing actions, including its support for illicit activities, necessitate further economic measures to protect United States interests.

    In light of these circumstances, and to address the continued national emergency with respect to Venezuela that forms the basis for Executive Order 13692 and subsequent orders, I hereby order:

    Section 1.  Findings.  (a)  The Tren de Aragua gang, a transnational criminal organization with origins in Venezuela, has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States due to its extensive involvement in terrorist activities such as kidnapping and violent attacks, including the assassination of a Venezuelan opposition figure, that destabilize communities across the Western Hemisphere.  The prior administration’s open-borders policies facilitated the infiltration of the United States by members of Tren de Aragua, allowing these dangerous criminals to establish a foothold within United States cities and prey upon American citizens. The Maduro regime aided and facilitated the influx of Tren de Aragua members into the United States during the prior administration by failing to control its borders, permitting the gang’s operations to flourish within Venezuela, and refusing to take action against its members, thereby exacerbating the illegal immigration crisis.

    (b)  Existing sanctions on Venezuela, including those imposed in Executive Order 13692, Executive Order 13808 of August 24, 2017 (Imposing Additional Sanctions with Respect to the Situation in Venezuela), Executive Order 13850 of November 1, 2018 (Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Venezuela), and Executive Order 13884 of August 5, 2019 (Blocking Property of the Government of Venezuela), remain in effect.  The actions and policies of the Maduro regime that were the basis for those orders continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  These actions include:

    (i)    The systematic undermining of democratic institutions through the suppression of free and fair elections and the illegitimate consolidation of power by the regime of Nicolás Maduro;

    (ii)   Endemic economic mismanagement and public corruption at the expense of the Venezuelan people and their prosperity;

    (iii)  The regime’s responsibility for the deepening humanitarian and public health crisis in Venezuela; and

    (iv)   The destabilization of the Western Hemisphere through the forced migration of millions of Venezuelans, imposing significant burdens on neighboring countries.

    Sec. 2.  Imposition of Tariffs.  (a)  On or after April 2, 2025, a tariff of 25 percent may be imposed on all goods imported into the United States from any country that imports Venezuelan oil, whether directly from Venezuela or indirectly through third parties.  Duties imposed by this order will be supplemental to duties on imports already imposed pursuant to IEEPA, section 232 of the Trade Expansion of 1962, section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, or any other authority.

    (b)  The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United States Trade Representative, is hereby authorized to determine in his discretion whether the tariff of 25 percent will be imposed on goods from any country that imports Venezuelan oil, directly or indirectly, on or after April 2, 2025.

    (c)  Once imposed on a country at the Secretary of State’s discretion, the tariff of 25 percent shall expire 1 year after the last date on which the country imported Venezuelan oil, or at an earlier date if the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United States Trade Representative, so determines at his discretion.  

    Sec. 3.  Administration and Enforcement.  (a)  The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the United States Trade Representative, is hereby authorized to impose the tariffs established by this order.

    (b)  The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, is hereby authorized to:

    (i)    Determine whether a country has imported Venezuelan oil, directly or indirectly;

    (ii)   Issue regulations, guidance, and determinations as necessary to implement this order;

    (iii)  Coordinate with the heads of other executive departments and agencies to ensure compliance; and

    (iv)   Take any additional actions consistent with applicable law to carry out the purposes of this order.

    (c)  Any prior Presidential Proclamation, Executive Order, or other Presidential directive or guidance that is inconsistent with the direction in this order is hereby terminated, suspended, or modified to the extent necessary to give full effect to this order.

    (d)  Any other Presidential Proclamation, Executive Order, or other Presidential directive or guidance that applies to Venezuela or a country subject to a tariff under section 2 of this order remains in full effect, except to the extent specified in subsection (c) of this section.

    (e)  If the Secretary of State, at his discretion, decides to impose a tariff under section 2 of this order on China, that tariff shall also apply to both the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region, as a measure to reduce the risk of transshipment and evasion.

    Sec. 4.  Reporting and Review.  The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce shall submit periodic reports to the President, within 180 days of the date of this order and no less than every 180 days thereafter, assessing the effectiveness of the tariffs described in this order and the ongoing conduct of the Maduro regime.

    Sec. 5.  Definitions.  For the purposes of this order:

    (a)  The term “Venezuelan oil” means crude oil or petroleum products extracted, refined, or exported from Venezuela, regardless of the nationality of the entity involved in the production or sale of such crude oil or petroleum products.

    (b)  The term “indirectly” includes purchases of Venezuelan oil through intermediaries or third countries where the origin of the oil can reasonably be traced to Venezuela, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce.

    Sec. 6.  Effective Date.  This order is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 2, 2025.

    Sec. 7.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

    (i)   The authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

    (ii)  The functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

    (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

                                  DONALD J. TRUMP

    THE WHITE HOUSE,

        March 24, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Quarry Association says Immediate RMA reform needed to avoid quarry material shortages

    Source: Aggregate and Quarry Association of NZ

    The quarry industry warns of shortages and rising prices of foundation materials for housing and infrastructure due to at least two more years of delays in obtaining consents under the Government’s RMA reforms.
    Aggregate and Quarry Association (AQA) CEO Wayne Scott says while quarries support the intent of yesterday’s announcements, it is totally unacceptable to wait until 2027 at the earliest to get any meaningful change in resource consenting.
    He says Government Ministers were told upon taking office that two existing National Policy Statements had drafting flaws stopping quarries from getting consents on land needed to supply the rock, aggregate and sand needed for homes and roads. Over one-third of existing quarries across New Zealand are impacted by the NPS Highly Productive Land.
    “We were told the problems with the flaws in the Highly Productive Land and Indigenous Bio-diversity national policy statements would be fixed,” says Wayne Scott.
    “Yesterday’s announcements show little intent from the Government to address these in a timely manner.”
    He says Ministers appear to believe that introducing the two new RMA bills before the end of the year – and passing them before the 2026 election – will solve all resource consenting and planning issues.
    “The new Natural Environment and Planning Acts will include National Policy Statements and presumably any fixes, then there will be a process for each region to develop a regulatory plan. That’s great but we need action now not in 2027 at the earliest.”
    Wayne Scott says the Government has been repeatedly advised that quarries around much of the country are at capacity and its big infrastructure and housing agenda will soon exceed supply.
    “There may be a view that the Fast-track Approvals Act would sort out issues for quarries. That legislation is very welcome but it’s only going to apply to eight out of a thousand active quarries around New Zealand. “
    He says all other quarries wanting to expand or develop a new site will have to do so under an RMA reform process that will take some years to bed in. In the interim, many will face constraints from two flawed National Policy Statements which two successive Governments promised to fix and both have failed to do so.
    “Quarries are already stretched to meet supply and costs can now only rise. We need urgent attention to resource consenting constraints now,” says Wayne Scott.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Doco – Greenpeace launches documentary exploring freshwater pollution in Canterbury

    Source: Greenpeace

    Greenpeace campaigner Will Appelbe says, “For decades, Canterbury’s lakes, rivers, and drinking water have been heading on a rapid downhill trajectory as a result of industry polluters. But it’s not too late to turn that around. People across Canterbury are fighting back to protect their access to fresh water – and that’s the story we’ve told through this documentary.”
    There will be an advance screening of the documentary at Lumiere Cinemas, Christchurch, at 6pm on Thursday 3rd April. Tickets are free, but there will be limited seats available.
    Appelbe, who is himself a Canterbury resident, says, “We know that no matter where they live or who they vote for, New Zealanders want to be able to go swimming in the local rivers, fishing in the lakes, and to be able to drink the water coming out of their kitchen tap. But these fundamental Kiwi values are being eroded by the ongoing pollution of fresh water by the intensive dairy industry.”
    “Central to NZ’s freshwater crisis is the fact that Waitaha Canterbury has the most polluted water in the country. We are a hot spot for contaminated drinking water, unswimmable rivers, and lakes choked with algal bloom. It shouldn’t be this way. Those who are responsible for protecting the health of water in this region have failed drastically.
    “Environment Canterbury has a responsibility to protect freshwater that’s used to source drinking water. Despite knowing about this issue, nitrate contamination is only getting worse in Canterbury. We’re coming up to local body elections later this year, and we expect safe drinking water to become a major election issue.”
    Greenpeace is also running two town hall events in Canterbury – in Ashburton on the 4th April, and Methven on the 6th April – to provide free drinking water testing for nitrate contamination.
    “We know that elevated levels of nitrate in drinking water have been linked to increased human health risks by a growing body of international science. This includes an increased risk of bowel cancer and pre-term birth, at levels much lower than what the NZ government allows to be present in drinking water.”
    “We provide this free drinking water testing so that everyone – no matter where they live – knows whether the water coming out of their tap is safe to drink. Ultimately, though, this is simply a bandaid over a bullet wound. We need to stop the nitrate pollution at the source – the intensive dairy industry – if we want to have any shot at improving water quality in the Waitaha.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Defence News – NZDF medics prepare for ‘inevitable’ natural disaster

    Source: New Zealand Defence Force

    Around 26 New Zealand Defence Force medics have honed their skills for responding to the range of injuries that might be expected from a destructive weather event striking in the Pacific.

    The exercise was held in Santoft Forest near Whanganui recently.

    Senior Aviation Medical Officer, Squadron Leader Rob Visser, says it’s only a matter of time before the NZDF is asked to respond again to an extreme weather event or natural disaster at home or in the South Pacific and generally, medics are the first to arrive.

    Most years will face some challenge, whether it is an extreme weather event or an earthquake, and climate change is only going to make events more likely, he said.

    “While this is primarily an Air Force medic exercise, we have Navy and Army personnel here as part of the activity, so we can all work to the same doctrines and same game plan for approaching these events,” he said.

    Exercise scenarios were based on what could be expected from a cyclone or earthquake – such as cuts, broken bones, impalings and crush victims, people in shock and even civil unrest.

    “This enables our medics to respond to any situation with a high level of skill and be professional in a challenging environment, delivering care without running water or electricity,” Squadron Leader Visser said.

    Their mission at a disaster was to treat and stabilise patients ready for evacuation – and if the roads were damaged that meant winching by helicopter – so they practised that too: “I was very pleased with the training I witnessed and am confident our medics are ready for any eventuality.”

    A major focus for Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) has been on building on interoperability within neighbouring countries, he said.

    “There has been clear direction from the Government around supporting Pacific partners, as well as a focus on being able to work closely with partners in the Pacific. The intent is that we not only work well within our own services but also with civilian agencies and partner countries who work alongside us in disaster relief operations.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Stats NZ information release: Regional gross domestic product: Year ended March 2024

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Regional gross domestic product: Year ended March 2024 – 25 March 2025 – Regional gross domestic product (GDP) is a geographic breakdown of national-level GDP, which is New Zealand’s official measure of economic activity. Figures are expressed in nominal terms, which means they are not adjusted for price effects.

    Files:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: GAZA – MSF condemns Israeli strike on Nasser hospital in Gaza, calls for protection of health facilities – MSF

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    JERUSALEM, 25 MARCH 2025 – Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) strongly condemns Israel’s strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza—the largest remaining functioning hospital in the Gaza Strip, where MSF teams work. 

    On 23 March, Israeli forces targeted the hospital’s inpatient surgical department, killing two people, according to the Ministry of Health. MSF teams confirmed there were several people injured, one of which was admitted to our trauma unit, and that severe damage was done to the building. 

    This attack shows a total disregard for the protection of medical facilities, endangered patients and medical staff and the very provision of healthcare. As Israeli forces escalate their operations in Gaza once again, MSF calls for the respect and protection of healthcare facilities, patients and medical staff in Gaza, where the health system has been all but destroyed.

    “Strikes such as these are horrific for staff and patients” says Claire Nicolet, MSF head of emergencies in Gaza. “We cannot go back to repeated attacks on health care facilities when the health system in Gaza is already hanging by a thread, and no supplies have entered in weeks.”

    While Gaza’s healthcare system has collapsed, and the medical needs of people continue to skyrocket, medical workers are yet again forced to fear for their lives while providing care. At Nasser hospital, two MSF colleagues, who were working in different hospital departments, described panic among patients at the time of the attack.

    ” The distance between us and the explosion was so close that we could’ve been hit too,” explains an MSF nurse who works in another ward in Nasser hospital and was close by when the strike happened. “Our colleagues, medical staff, patients and their caretakers were all terrified.”

    During Israel’s war on Gaza, MSF has witnessed relentless attacks on health facilities, a complete disregard for patients, medical workers and International Humanitarian Law (IHL), resulting in the systematic dismantling of Gaza’s health system. Not a single hospital in the Gaza Strip is currently fully functional, and only 21 out of the enclave’s 36 hospitals are partially functioning, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

    As one of the last main hospitals in southern Gaza, Nasser hospital is providing care for people with severe burns and trauma injuries, newborns, and pregnant women.

    Since returning in mid-May 2024, MSF teams have been supporting the emergency, pediatric, and maternity departments at Nasser hospital, as well as running a burn and trauma unit. In February 2024, MSF teams were forced to flee after the hospital was shelled by Israeli forces.

    Furthermore, Nasser Hospital as other health facilities in Gaza is facing several challenges of supplies, including hygiene items, medication and surgical items, while Israeli authorities continue their siege on the Strip for over 20 days. Due to the numerous influxes of patients from recent bombings, MSF stocks are decreasing faster than expected, and the blockade is making it impossible for our teams to restock vital items such as antibiotics, painkillers and anesthetics.

    In a separate incident on May 24, MSF teams in Al-Mawasi primary health care clinic were forced to close the emergency room, evacuate the facility and suspend activities for the day due to close-by shootings and shelling. Healthcare facilities, patients and medical staff must be protected.

    MSF calls once again for the immediate restoration of the ceasefire and for the resumption of the entry of essential aid and basic supplies, which people in Gaza desperately need.

    MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Minister Rishworth Newschat on the Today Show with James Bracey

    Source: Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science

    E&OE TRANSCRIPT

    Topics: Budget; Teal MP Monique Ryan’s husband removing political signage; Brisbane Olympics.

    JAMES BRACEY, HOST: Welcome back to Today. The Albanese Government is this morning banking on voters looking past a decade of deficits as they prepare to hand down their fourth Federal Budget, focusing instead on the nation’s books being in better shape now than they were at the end of the pandemic. Joining us to discuss today’s headlines is Minister for Social Services and the NDIS Amanda Rishworth and political strategist Scott Emerson. Morning to you both. Great to chat with you. A busy day today. So, let’s get into it. Amanda, is it fair to be asking Australians to look past the Budget when Australia’s debt will reach $940 billion this financial year?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE NDIS: I think what’s important is to look at the action that we have taken. We inherited a mess from the Liberal Party, and we’ve been working very diligently and responsibly to put the Budget in a better nick, quite frankly. We’ve turned two Liberal deficits into surpluses and now we’re reducing the deficit this year and reducing the debt so that Australians are paying less in interest than they otherwise would have.

    JAMES BRACEY: Scott, it’s been reported today young people are battling bracket creep. 63 per cent of Australians aged 45 and over are too scared to retire. Should Labor really be asking them to be hanging on?

    SCOTT EMERSON, POLITICAL STRATEGIST: Well, I think we know, James, this is a cost-of-living Budget. People are struggling. It’s got to be a cost-of-living election coming up in a matter of days being announced. The problem for Labor is that people are feeling it very hard out there. They are doing it tough. And when Jim Chalmers’ selling point is a decade at least of deficits going forward, it’s a hard sell. The problem also for Labor is it didn’t intend to bring down this Budget. Their expectation was that they would be in the election already not have to reveal these numbers. Because of Cyclone Alfred that all got delayed.

    JAMES BRACEY: Yeah, the Budget no one saw coming. And as it comes out today, Michelle, apparently so do the claws. Footage emerging of Peter Jordan, the husband of Teal MP Monique Ryan, tearing down a poster of his wife’s Liberal rival. Now, Amanda, things are getting really ugly out there.

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: I would say that we have pretty civil elections here in Australia compared to other countries. But of course, that obligation relies on all of us to continue to act civilly. I know from time to time in my state and around the place posters do get taken down and vandalised. And it’s important that if people feel others are doing the wrong thing to go through the appropriate channels.

    JAMES BRACEY: All right. The other big issue today, after four long years, Brisbane’s Olympic blueprint is being unveiled. Really looking forward to seeing what they’ve got for us today. Scott, we’re finally going to have a concrete plan. Will it be enough, though, to calm the farm?

    SCOTT EMERSON: Well, I think the problem for Premier David Crisafulli is he did say repeatedly before the election that there wouldn’t be any new stadiums. What everyone is expecting today is that there will be a new stadium at Victoria Park. I guess his argument will be we’ve got to do it right. We’re going to be on the world’s spotlight in 2032. We’ve got to have appropriate stadiums. All the previous Labor government had a was all over the shop. It was three years of wasted planning. So, today is the big day, the D day. What will be interesting is if they scrap the Brisbane arena, which is going to be funded by the Federal government, and get that $2.5 billion reallocated to the other stadium and other facilities.

    JAMES BRACEY: Amanda, a lot of work’s got to be done between now and 2032. Can Brissy pull it off?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: I am very hopeful that Brisbane can pull it off because it’s such an exciting opportunity. Of course, the Federal government will work with the state government. We, of course, need to make sure that for our contribution, we’re getting value for that. Any investment provides a lasting legacy for Brisbane beyond the games. But look, we are ready to work, of course, across the board to make sure that this is the best games that Australia could possibly put on.

    JAMES BRACEY: There’s a lot of heavy reading ahead of us today with the budget and Brisbane’s big announcement. Thanks so much for your time today, Amanda and Scott.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Gang Conflict Warrant issued following Tairāwhiti gang tensions

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Attribute to Tairāwhiti Area Commander Inspector Danny Kirk.

    A significant Police operation has begun across Tairāwhiti, following several concerning incidents stemming from tensions between rival gangs.

    Eight incidents, involving assaults and firearms, were reported between 16 March and 23 March. Police and gang leaders have been working to ease tensions, but an escalation in the conflict between rival gang members has forced us to draw on additional powers.

    Yesterday afternoon, Police were issued a Gang Conflict Warrant under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act, giving Police special powers to search vehicles and occupants of vehicles of suspected gang members, and to seize firearms and weapons, and vehicles.

    Officers from across the district are supporting the operation, which will involve a heavy Police presence in Gisborne and further afield. My focus, and the focus of all staff, is the on safety of our communities. The incidents we’ve been made aware of posed a very real threat to the lives of those involved, and innocent members of the public. We’re not going to tolerate it.

    We are continuing to work with gang leadership while sending a clear message to all gang members that they are in our spotlight.

    Additional Police will be patrolling communities across Tairāwhiti, stopping vehicles with links to gang members, searching addresses, and progressing enquiries into the recent events of concern.

    I want to assure our Tairāwhiti communities that we are driving this hard and will be committing significant resources to holding gang members accountable for their actions.

    Police need the community to help us, and people can do that by reporting illegal or suspicious activity, by calling police on 111 if it’s happening now, or by making a report via 105 if it’s after the fact.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview – ABC Afternoon Briefing

    Source: Historic Cooma Gaol listed on the NSW State Heritage Register

    TOM LOWREY: Earlier I spoke with Federal Education Minister Jason Clare. Jason Clare, thanks for joining Afternoon Briefing.
    JASON CLARE, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION: Thanks for having me.
    LOWREY: The school funding puzzle is now somewhat complete, with Queensland having signed on. With this whole picture now in place, is money the solution to the problems education’s facing broadly? Is that sort of the message here?
    CLARE: It’s two things. It’s funding, but it’s got to be tied to real reform, reforms that are going to help our children who fall behind to catch up at school and to keep up and to finish school. You know, the big challenge that we’re confronting at the moment is the number of kids finishing high school is dropping. Not everywhere, not in the non-government system, but certainly in our public schools. It’s dropped from about 83 per cent about seven or eight years ago down to 73 per cent. And as you know, as everyone watching knows, it’s more important to finish school today than it was when we were at school. We’ve got to turn that around. And that’s why – I was, we have been insistent that this can’t be a blank cheque. This is the biggest investment by the Commonwealth Government in public education ever. It’s worth about $16.5 billion over the next 10 years. But it’s not a blank cheque. It’s tied to the biggest set of reforms to education in decades.
    LOWREY: I wanted to touch on those targets. I think you have a Year 12 completion rate target of around 84 per cent or so by the end of the decade. Is that achievable? That would be a record high.
    CLARE: The key to achieving that is making sure that the young people who are falling behind in primary school get the extra support they need. What NAPLAN data shows us is that the children who fall behind in their first test when they’re eight years old, four out of five of those children are still behind when they sat the NAPLAN test in Year 9. In other words, 80 per cent of the children who are behind when they’re little are still behind when they’re in the middle of high school. They’re the children most likely to not finish high school. What we also know is if you intervene early, if you identify those children early, even before they sit that test, maybe in kindergarten prep year one, and you provide them with extra individualised support, then they can catch up faster. Things like catch-up tutoring, where a child gets taken out of a class of 30 children into a class with three or four, four days a week for 40 minutes. If it’s done right, then a child can learn as much in six months as they normally learn in 12 months. In other words, they catch up. That’s the sort of real practical reform that’s going to make a difference to help more young people finish high school.
    LOWREY: Yeah. There’s a clause in these agreements that requires, I think evidence-based teaching is the language. For those that don’t know, what are you sort of referring to there? And are you intervening in how teachers should run their classroom?
    CLARE: No. I think the reading wars are over. I think the evidence is now pretty clear about how to teach children to read about all of the techniques that really work. Synthetic phonics is a classic example of that. All of the evidence shows us what works to help young people learn. We’re embedding that in the curriculum, in the university degrees. But this will help to roll that out in classrooms across the nation as well. And state ministers, state governments are doing a lot of the heavy lifting in that regard right across the country.
    LOWREY: Public schools aren’t going to be fully funded nationwide still for some time. There’s still a process to grow the funding to get to that point. And at the same time, we always hear stories about private schools building new pools or orchestra pits, or, I think, someone has a Scottish castle. Is there work to do on the private school funding side of ledger, do you think?
    CLARE: First this is not about building classrooms. It’s about the children in the classrooms. It’s the investment in the children.
    LOWREY: Is there something about school funding?
    CLARE: Yeah, no, absolutely. This takes us back to the work that David Gonski did more than 10 years ago. And he set a formula for how we should fund our schools, private schools and public schools. Private schools are funded at that level that David Gonski said they should be at all those years ago. Public schools aren’t, not until now. That’s why today’s a big day. You know, this is a big deal. No government has ever done this before, ever. This agreement that we’ve now struck with every state and territory means that every public school across the country is going to be funded at that level that David Gonski said they should be at. And it ratchets up year after year after year to get to that level. You know, I’m a kid from a public school in the western suburbs of Sydney. I’m the first person in my family to finish school, first person in my family to finish Year 10. I’m only here because of the schools I went to, the teachers who taught me. I understand how important it is. This sort of investment tied to these sorts of reforms are going to help kids like the kid I was, the kids that I went to school with. It’s going to help to make sure that every child in the country, wherever they go to school, whether it’s a non-government school or a government school, get the resources and the support that they need to get a great start in life.
    LOWREY: I want to touch on another issue going on in education, higher education. In fact, the US has been reviewing funding agreements with Australian universities. Do you have a picture yet of the impact of those reviews? I think they’re being sent questionnaires almost on their ideological positions to try and justify the funding they’re receiving.
    CLARE: Yeah, we’re starting to get more information. This emerges out of a review that the US Government has initiated into foreign aid and research has been caught in that. We understand that at least seven Australian universities have been affected by this, that they’re conducting research that’s either been suspended or stopped. I’ve asked my department to work with those universities, get more information from other Australian universities about potential research that might be affected. The Australian Embassy in Washington is working with US departments to get a better understanding of this. We expect that the outcomes of that review that the US has initiated will be clearer in the second half of April. 
    Australian universities do great research. To put it in perspective, we’re a nation that represents about 0.3 per cent of the globe’s population, but we do 3 per cent of the world’s research, so we punch above our weight. It’s the reason that countries like the US want to work with us and work with our universities. Ultimately, the US will make their own decisions about the research that they want to fund. But we think it’s worth working with Australia because we’ve got great universities.
    LOWREY: Yeah, look, some of these questions that academics are being asked, things like, can you confirm that your organisation does not work with any party that espouses anti-American beliefs, or that this work is not climate or environmental justice sort of projects. Is that appropriate to be asking Australian academics those kinds of questions about their research? Is it foreign interference even?
    CLARE: No, I don’t think it is. This is US-funded research of US universities working with Australian universities. Ultimately, it’s up to the US about what research it wants to fund. I would advocate for the US to want to work with our universities because they’re some of the best in the world. And that’s why the Australian Embassy is working with US officials to get a better understanding about this issue.
    LOWREY: What’s your advice to those universities? Should they write back? Should they fill in these questionnaires?
    CLARE: They are, they are. I think overwhelmingly, it’s not universities themselves, but it’s individual researchers in our universities that are responding to requests from individual researchers in individual US universities. But it’s not just the universities that are answering these questions. We’re seeking further information from the US.
    LOWREY: Would you consider, or the Australian government consider stepping in to fill the breach if some of this funding is pulled? You mentioned the sort of notable work they’re doing.
    CLARE: No, I don’t think it’s practical for the Australian Government to underwrite this sort of research. But whether it’s the United States or whether it’s Europe or anybody else that collaborates with Australian universities, they know, like we know, that our universities are some of the best in the world. Our researchers are extraordinary. I encourage them to continue the work they’re doing.
    LOWREY: Just quickly on the Budget we’re going to see tomorrow, anything in particular to look out for in the education space? And do you think there’s broadly concerns about the government handing down a big spending budget? Is that what Australians want to see at this point in time, with inflation still a concern?
    CLARE: I think most Australians want to make sure we’re investing in the areas that are going to set us up for the future, and that’s what education does. Three big things in my area. One is cutting the cost of childcare for more than a million Australian families. We announced that almost two years ago, implemented that almost two years ago. That continues to have a big impact for families across the country. For the average family with one child in childcare saves them more than $2,000 a year. Then there’s this, the big investment that we’re making in our schools that are going to help more children to finish high school. We want more young people to be able to finish high school, then go on to TAFE or to university, and that’s where free TAFE comes in. And that’s also where cutting the cost of HECS comes in. We’ve said that if we win the next election, we’ll cut the cost of HECS debt for 3 million Australians by 20 per cent. I’ll give you an example about what that means. The average HECS debt today is about 27 grand. If we win the election, will be able to implement that change that will cut that debt for that individual by $5,500. That’s a lot of money in people’s pockets. You’ll see that in the Budget tomorrow night.
    LOWREY: Just quickly, on your part of the world, in Western Sydney, there’s been a lot of talk about how the conflict in Gaza is cutting through to voters, particularly in your electorate and the electorate surrounding it. Are you concerned that issue might see Labor bleed votes to the Greens and to some high-profile independents as well?
    CLARE: I don’t take any vote for granted. I’ve had the privilege to represent Western Sydney, the area that I grew up, now for a long time. I work my guts out for my community every single day, but I also know that my community is hurting in a way that not every community is. This isn’t a conflict on the other side of the world, for my community it’s much closer to home. The dead bodies that they see on television sometimes are family, they’re relatives, and so it affects my community in a very unique and personal way, and so I’m very conscious of that. My job is to represent my community every single day the best I can, and I’ll continue to do that.
    LOWREY: Jason Clare thanks for joining me. 
    CLARE: Thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Mangaharakeke Drive closed following crash, Horotiu

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Mangaharakeke Drive/State Highway 1C, Horotiu is closed near the Te Rapa Road off-ramp following a crash.

    The two-vehicle crash was reported at around 11am.

    Initial indications are that there are serious injuries.

    Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –