NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia

  • Trump aims to exceed first term’s weapons sales to Taiwan, officials say

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The United States plans to ramp up weapons sales to Taipei to a level exceeding President Donald Trump’s first term as part of an effort to deter China as it intensifies military pressure on the democratic island, according to two U.S. officials.

    If U.S. arms sales to Taiwan do accelerate, it could ease worries about the extent of Trump’s commitment to the island. It would also add new friction to the tense U.S.-China relationship.

    The U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they expect U.S. approvals for weapons sales to Taipei over the next four years to surpass those in Trump’s first term, with one of the officials saying arms sales notifications to Taiwan could “easily exceed” that earlier period.

    They also said the United States is pressing members of Taiwan’s opposition parties not to oppose the government’s efforts to increase defense spending to 3% of the island’s budget.

    The first Trump administration approved sales of approximately $18.3 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan, compared with around $8.4 billion during Joe Biden’s term, according to Reuters calculations.

    The United States is Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei.

    Even so, many in Taiwan, which China claims as its own, worry that Trump may not be as committed to the island as past U.S. presidents.

    On the election campaign trail, Trump suggested Taiwan should pay to be protected and also accused the island of stealing American semiconductor business, causing alarm in Taipei.

    China has vowed to “reunify” with the separately governed island, by force if necessary. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.

    The U.S. officials said administration officials and Trump himself were committed to “enhancing hard deterrence” for Taiwan.

    “That’s where the president is. That’s where all of us are,” one U.S. official said, adding that they were working closely with Taiwan on an arms procurement package to be rolled out when Taiwan secured domestic funding.

    Taiwan’s Presidential Office told Reuters the government is determined to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and pointed to its proposals to increase defense spending.

    “Taiwan aims to enhance military deterrence while continuing to deepen its security cooperation with the United States,” Presidential Office spokesperson Wen Lii said.

    Taiwan’s defense ministry declined to comment on any new arms sales, but reiterated previous remarks by the island’s defense minister, Wellington Koo, about the importance of “solidarity and cooperation of democratic allies.”

    -Reuters

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: McClay to champion NZ’s trade interests at OECD and in Brussels

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Europe this weekend to advance New Zealand’s trade and investment interests 

    Minister McClay will visit Switzerland, Paris and Brussels for high level ministerial and business meetings.  

    In Switzerland he will attend the first in person meeting of a new pro-trade group with ministers from UAE, Singapore and Switzerland where he will focus on removing trade barriers and the promotion of paperless trade. 

    In Paris he will attend the annual OECD Trade Ministers, a CPTPP ministers discussion, ACCTs Ministers meeting, and a WTO Mini Ministerial meeting. He will also hold discussions with ministers from Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, USA.

    He will also undertake a bilateral French programme and meet the French Minister responsible for Trade.

    In Brussels Mr McClay will hold talks with EU Commissioner for Trade, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, and EU Vice President responsible for sustainability.  He will also speak at an event to mark the first year of the NZ EU FTA. 

    “One in four Kiwi jobs depend on Trade, and strong trade relationships mean more opportunities for New Zealander.

    The Government’s is committed to the ambitious goal of doubling exports by value in the next ten years to deliver higher paying jobs for all New Zealanders,” Mr McClay says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • Judge blocks Trump ban on Harvard’s international students

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A federal judge said on Thursday she would extend an order blocking President Donald Trump’s administration from immediately revoking Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, a victory for the Ivy League school that is entangled in multiple battles with the administration.

    U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston announced her intention to issue a preliminary injunction, six days after she first granted Harvard a temporary order blocking the Trump administration’s move.

    As the court hearing unfolded on Thursday morning, thousands of Harvard students were receiving their degrees at the school’s commencement ceremony on campus about 5 miles (8 km) away.

    University President Alan Garber, who received a standing ovation, welcomed graduating students “from down the street, across the country and around the world,” drawing applause for the last words.

    “Around the world – just as it should be,” he added.

    The Trump administration has launched a multifront attack on the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university, freezing billions of dollars in grants and other funding, proposing to end its tax-exempt status and opening an investigation into whether it discriminated against white, Asian, male or straight employees or job applicants.

    Revoking Harvard’s ability to enroll international students would be damaging, the school says. More than a quarter of the student body is international; nearly 60% of the graduate students at the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School hail from other countries.

    The attack on Harvard is part of the administration’s broader effort to pressure higher education institutions to align with its policy agenda.

    On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration would start “aggressively” revoking visas issued to Chinese students attending U.S. schools, including those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party and those studying in critical fields, which he did not specify.

    More than 275,000 Chinese students are enrolled in hundreds of U.S. colleges, providing a major source of revenue for the schools and a crucial pipeline of talent for U.S. technology companies. The decision prompted despair and frustration among students who have offers to attend next year.

    Prior to Rubio’s announcement, the offensive against U.S. colleges had largely been confined to Ivy League schools such as Harvard, Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania, which it has accused of left-wing bias and antisemitism.

    Lynn Pasquerella, president of the advocacy group American Association of Colleges and Universities, said the Trump administration’s targeting of international students would have negative consequences for schools and the U.S.

    “Chinese students, in particular, now that they’re being faced with hyper-scrutiny, are looking elsewhere,” she said. “That is a huge loss for us. It’s a brain drain.”

    JUDGE SKEPTICAL

    The court hearing before Burroughs took place shortly after the administration softened its stance in an apparent effort to refute Harvard’s legal arguments in advance.

    Late Wednesday night, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent a notice to Harvard saying it would now give the university 30 days to submit evidence contesting the administration’s plan to revoke Harvard’s right to enroll non-U.S. students.

    The notice signaled a change in course for DHS, which had said last week that the revocation was effective immediately. In its lawsuit challenging the move, Harvard argued that DHS had violated federal administrative procedure.

    During the court hearing, U.S. Department of Justice attorney Tiberius Davis argued there was now no need for a court order blocking the administration’s actions, since Harvard could challenge them via an administrative process.

    But Burroughs, an appointee of Democratic former President Barack Obama, said she believed a broad preliminary injunction protecting Harvard and students was necessary while that process played out.

    She expressed skepticism that Harvard’s fate would be any different at its conclusion, saying, “Aren’t we still going to end up back here at the same place?”

    She also questioned whether the administration had fully complied with her temporary restraining order, pointing to a declaration Harvard submitted on Wednesday that said visas for incoming students had been recently revoked.

    Burroughs said the temporary order would remain in effect while lawyers for both sides negotiate over the terms of the injunction.

    Harvard has called DHS’s action part of an “unprecedented and retaliatory attack on academic freedom.” The school is pursuing a separate lawsuit challenging the administration’s decision to terminate nearly $3 billion in federal research funding.

    Harvard argues the Trump administration is retaliating against it for refusing to accede to its demands to control the school’s governance, curriculum and the ideology of its faculty and students.

    In announcing the initial decision to revoke Harvard’s certification, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, without providing evidence, accused the university of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.”

    She accused the school of refusing to comply with wide-ranging requests for information on its student visa holders, including whether they engaged in any activity that was illegal, violent or subjected them to discipline.

    The department’s move would prevent Harvard from enrolling new international students and require existing ones to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI China: NHC vice-minister visits Hong Kong, Macao

    Source: People’s Republic of China Ministry of Health

    Cao Xuetao, vice-minister of the National Health Commission (NHC), led a delegation to the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions from May 25 to 28.

    During his stay in Hong Kong, Cao addressed the opening ceremonies of the 2025 Hospital Authority Convention and the Asia Summit on Global Health. In his speeches, he focused on latest developments and priorities for the health sector on the Chinese mainland as well as achievements in participating in global health governance. He said he hoped to deepen practical cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong in professional fields, and promote scientific and technological innovation and the development of the health industry so as to jointly build a Healthy China and address global health challenges. The delegation also visited the State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology and the State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

    In Macao, Cao met with Sam Hou-fai, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and O Lam, secretary for social affairs and culture of Macao. Discussions focused on advancing practical health cooperation projects between the mainland and Macao, supporting the development of Macao’s big health industry and jointly participating in global health governance. Cao also conducted on-site research on the operations of the Macao Medical Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, an islands healthcare complex, acknowledging its current achievements and offering suggestions for future development.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SFST meets government financial officials and financial leaders in Ottawa and Vancouver (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, met with Canadian financial officials in Ottawa, Canada on May 28 (Ottawa time) and continued his visit to Vancouver on May 29 (Vancouver time).

    Mr Hui went to Ottawa on May 28 (Ottawa time) to meet with the Canadian Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Chris Forbes. They discussed the challenges posed by unilateralism and protectionism, and how Hong Kong and Canada could collaborate to achieve mutual benefits in areas such as the gold market and virtual assets. Mr Hui told Mr Forbes that as the global economic gravity continues to shift eastwards, Hong Kong has been exploring new growth areas and expanding international co-operation, including the development of international gold trading currently pursued by the working group on promoting gold market development. 
    Mr Hui then met with Senator Mr Woo Yuen-pau at the Parliament Hill. He briefed Mr Woo on Hong Kong’s effort in maintaining its status as an international financial centre through various measures. He mentioned the recent affirmations of Hong Kong’s credit ratings by Fitch, S&P and Moody’s, all with “stable” outlooks. These affirmations fully demonstrate Hong Kong’s resilience in maintaining stability amid increasing global economic and financial uncertainties. In addition, both S&P and Moody’s provided positive evaluations of Hong Kong’s credit profile, including its substantial fiscal buffers and foreign exchange reserves, a strong external balance sheet, and high per-capita income levels. Mr Hui said, with its effective policy framework and solid financial market built over the years, Hong Kong is definitely a trusted partner for Canada at a time when the global political and economic landscape is fraught with uncertainties.  
    On May 29 (Vancouver time), Mr Hui started his visit to Vancouver where he met with Mr Mark Scott who is the Board Chair of Fraser Institute, the most influential think-tank in Canada, and some other prominent business figures to update them of Hong Kong’s latest financial development. The Director, Head (Policy Research) of the Financial Services Development Council, Dr Rocky Tung, also joined the meeting. Mr Hui welcomed that Hong Kong was ranked as the world’s freest economies among 165 economies in Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World 2024 Annual Report. Among the five areas of assessment, Hong Kong topped in the areas of “Freedom to trade internationally” and “Regulation”, and came third in “Sound money”. Looking ahead, Hong Kong will continue to undertake a series of initiatives covering areas in which it has competitive edges, including stocks, bonds, and asset and wealth management, as well as emerging opportunities such as green and sustainable finance and the development of Web3, with a view to keeping the momentum to boost the high-quality development of Hong Kong’s financial market.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Gazettal of Chinese Permanent Cemeteries (Amendment) Rules 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Gazettal of Chinese Permanent Cemeteries (Amendment) Rules 2025 
    The Amendment Rules mainly allow the Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries (BMCPC) to implement arrangements for extendable niches, where the initial interment period is 20 years, which upon expiry may be extended every 10 years thereafter. The Amendment Rules also allow the BMCPC to develop a new facility: Family Gardens for Ashes, set fees relevant to the operation of the BMCPC, and introduce other technical amendments relevant to the operations of its cemeteries.
     
    A spokesperson for the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau said, “The amendments aim to optimise the BMCPC’s management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries and the related arrangements. Implementation of the extendable niches arrangement will contribute to the circulation of niches and hence be conducive to meeting the growing public demand for niches in the long term. Separately, the development of Family Gardens for Ashes will allow the BMCPC to optimise the use of idle grave spaces in less accessible locations, thereby further enriching the options on cemetery services that it provides.”
     
    The Amendment Rules will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on June 4 and will commence on August 1. 
    Issued at HKT 12:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: California’s ports face economic devastation as tariffs cripple trade with Asia-Pacific

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

    Ships loaded with containers are pictured at the Port of Los Angeles, California, the United States, on April 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    California’s ports are experiencing worse conditions than during the COVID-19 pandemic as U.S. President Donald Trump’s reckless trade war with China and other Asia-Pacific economies harmed the state’s economy, triggering widespread job losses and forcing billions of dollars in budget cuts.

    “The vessel calls, or cancellations, that we’re seeing today are starting to exceed the number that we saw in COVID-19,” Mario Cordero, chief executive of the Port of Long Beach, told CalMatters, an independent news agency focusing on California, in an interview published Wednesday.

    The Port of Long Beach alone supported 2,714,707 jobs across the United States, representing one out of every 77 American jobs, according to a comprehensive economic impact analysis completed on May 12 by the Port of Long Beach. In California, the port said it supported 1.1 million jobs, accounting for approximately five percent of the state’s total employment.

    Trade expert Paul Bingham of S&P Global Market Intelligence confirmed the unprecedented nature of the crisis during another recent interview with Cordero.

    “There’s nothing like this that any of us that are still active in our careers have seen before,” Bingham said. “From an economics perspective, we’d have to go back over 90 years to the 1930s to find tariff levels for the United States on a trade-weighted basis close to what they are right now.”

    The Golden State, the strongest state in the field of economy in the country, faced a 12-billion-U.S.-dollar budget deficit, with Governor Gavin Newsom directly blaming Trump’s “chaotic tariffs strategy” during his May 14 state budget announcement.

    The of Port Long Beach operations had seen dramatic deterioration. According to Cordero, the port received typically 20 container vessels weekly, but the number dropped to 14 vessels two weeks into May 2025 and current schedules showed only 18 this week.

    At the Port of Los Angeles, Executive Director Gene Seroka said during a media briefing that the facility had expected 80 ships to arrive in May, but 17 were subsequently canceled.

    The Port of Oakland in Northern California saw a 15 percent month-over-month drop in container activity in April, according to port spokesperson Matt Davis.

    The human cost also proved devastating across California’s supply chain network. Part-time port workers received no hours while full-time longshoremen struggled to reach 40 hours per week, according to Gary Herrera, president of the International Longshore Workers Union Local 13, speaking at a media briefing with Long Beach officials.

    Eric Tate, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 848 representing about 8,000 truck drivers in Southern California, said in May that some drivers worked only one to two days weekly.

    “When there’s no work for longshoremen, there’s very little work for us except gate monitoring,” Luisa Gratz, president of International Longshore Workers Union Local 26, told CalMatters. “It’s heartbreaking. It’s putting people out of work.”

    California has deep economic ties with the Asia-Pacific markets. Chinese goods account for 40 percent of imports at the Port of Los Angeles, 63 percent at the Port of Long Beach, and 45 percent at the Port of Oakland, according to CalMatters’ data.

    The Port of Long Beach’s economic impact analysis showed the facility generates 309 billion dollars in national gross domestic product (GDP) and 84.4 billion dollars in tax revenues annually.

    The agricultural sector, California’s economic backbone worth 59 billion dollars annually, faced significant losses. “We got hammered. We lost the whole Chinese market to Australia. At this point, I’m on the verge of losing everything,” Christine Gemperle, an almond farmer of Stanislaus County, told The Los Angeles Times last month.

    Almond prices crashed from 2.5 dollars per pound to 1.4 dollars per pound due to tariffs imposed by Trump during his first term in 2018, according to research from the University of California’s Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics.

    Furthermore, the uncertainty caused by tariff policies has resulted in substantial economic damage for businesses, said experts.

    “The uncertainty here is not something because we have a virus we don’t understand, it’s the uncertainty around policy and what that has done to business, where there’s a lack of certainty, a lack of ability to plan has imposed costs on all of us,” Bingham said during his interview with Cordero.

    Economic analysts have warned of broader recession risks. The International Monetary Fund slashed its U.S. and global economic growth forecasts, citing Trump’s tariffs. Apollo Global Management’s chief economist, Torsten Slok, forecasts a “self-inflicted recession” by summer 2025, with layoffs spreading from trucking to retail.

    “You can’t put the toothpaste back into the tube — once you squeeze it, it’s out,” Constance Hunter, chief economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit, told The Washington Post on April 28.

    On Wednesday, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade invalidated Trump tariffs. In the ruling published on the court’s website, “The court holds for the foregoing reasons that IEEPA does not authorize any of the Worldwide, Retaliatory, or Trafficking Tariff Orders.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Delhi-NCR braces for rain, thunderstorms today as IMD issues orange alert

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Delhi-NCR is set to witness more rain and stormy weather on Friday, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the region, warning of thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds reaching speeds of 50-60 km/h. 

    According to the IMD forecast, partly cloudy skies will persist throughout the day, with light to moderate rainfall expected across various parts of the city. Maximum temperatures are likely to hover between 36 and 38 degrees Celsius, while the minimum may range from 26 to 28 degrees Celsius.

    The alert was upgraded from yellow to orange following observations of intensified weather activity. On Thursday, parts of Delhi had already experienced light showers and gusty winds reaching up to 60 km/h.

    Friday could see stronger winds of up to 70 km/h, the IMD said, increasing the likelihood of waterlogging, traffic disruptions, and minor damage to infrastructure.

    The orange alert signifies potentially severe weather conditions that could disrupt normal life, prompting the public to remain cautious and take necessary precautions. The alert is issued when heavy rainfall is anticipated, typically exceeding 115.6 mm and up to 204.4 mm within 24 hours.

    Delhi has already witnessed an unprecedented 186.4 mm of rainfall so far this May, making it the wettest May on record for the city. This irregular precipitation pattern is linked to the early advancement of the southwest monsoon, which reached Kerala on May 24, a week ahead of schedule, and Mumbai on May 26, significantly earlier than its usual onset date of June 11.

    While the monsoon typically hits Delhi around June 27, the IMD has yet to specify when it will arrive in the capital this year. “We are closely monitoring the progress,” an IMD official said.

    Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category on Thursday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 151 at 4 p.m., slightly worse than the 133 measured at the same time a day earlier.

    Evening showers on Thursday brought temporary relief. However, the rainfall was not intense enough to significantly offset the prevailing humidity and heat. The IMD advises residents to stay indoors during stormy periods, avoid sheltering under trees, and secure loose outdoor items to prevent accidents or damage. (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Money Market Operations as on May 29, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 5,77,073.30 5.71 2.00-6.80
         I. Call Money 15,981.90 5.78 4.85-5.82
         II. Triparty Repo 3,88,926.60 5.72 5.66-5.80
         III. Market Repo 1,71,005.60 5.69 2.00-6.80
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,159.20 5.91 5.90-6.00
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 70.00 5.67 5.45-5.85
         II. Term Money@@ 405.00 – 6.05-6.15
         III. Triparty Repo 4,265.00 5.84 5.80-5.90
         IV. Market Repo 0.00 – –
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Thu, 29/05/2025 1 Fri, 30/05/2025 3,335.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Thu, 29/05/2025 1 Fri, 30/05/2025 1,062.00 6.25
    4. SDFΔ# Thu, 29/05/2025 1 Fri, 30/05/2025 2,18,709.00 5.75
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -2,14,312.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Thu, 17/04/2025 43 Fri, 30/05/2025 25,731.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       8,594.62  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     34,325.62  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -1,79,986.38  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on May 29, 2025 9,51,404.27  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending May 30, 2025 9,48,817.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ May 29, 2025 3,335.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on May 02, 2025 2,34,873.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2025-2026/91 dated April 11, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2025-2026/433

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Primary One Central Allocation results to be posted to parents on June 4 and 5

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Primary One Central Allocation results to be posted to parents on June 4 and 5 
    Release of Central Allocation results
    ———————————————
     
        “A total of 19 489 children took part in the Primary One Central Allocation 2025. Among them, 15 538 children were allocated to schools of their first three choices,” an EDB spokesman said.
     
         “Taking into account discretionary places and the number of children allocated to schools of their first three choices in the Central Allocation, the overall satisfaction rate is 90.0 per cent.”

         The Central Allocation for POA is composed of two parts. Ten per cent of the places for the Central Allocation, which are not restricted by school nets, are under Part A and parents may choose up to three schools in any school net. The remaining 90 per cent of the places for the Central Allocation are under Part B and parents are required to select schools in the school net/Choice of Schools List in respect of the applicant child. Of the places allocated to children in the Central Allocation, 2 191 are under Part A and 17 298 are under Part B. 
    Registration of pupils
    —————————- 
         The spokesman reminded that parents who cannot register their child with the school on the above dates due to matters of grave importance should notify the person in charge of registration of the school allocated in advance to make alternative arrangements. Otherwise, they would be deemed to have given up the school place allocated.
      
    Arrangements for special circumstances
    ————————————————- 
         Any parent who finds it necessary to transfer his/her child to another school after registration is strongly advised to obtain an assurance of acceptance from that school before retrieving the Primary One Registration Form from the original school because retrieval of the registration form means cancellation of the allocated school place.
     
         In case of inclement weather or other special circumstances during the period for the announcement of results or on any day(s) designated for registration, parents should pay attention to announcements on radio and television for special arrangements for the Central Allocation or registration.
     
    Enquiries
    ————Issued at HKT 11:37

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Speech: Meg O’Neill Address to the 2025 Australian Energy Producers Conference & Exhibition – Australian Energy Producers

    Source: Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association

    Headline: Speech: Meg O’Neill Address to the 2025 Australian Energy Producers Conference & Exhibition – Australian Energy Producers

    Thank you, Samantha, for that kind introduction.

    Welcome everyone to the 2025 Australian Energy Producers Conference!

    I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Jagera and Turrbal people as the traditional custodians of the land upon which we are meeting today.

    Thank you also to Shannon Ruska for that wonderful Welcome to Country.

    It was a fantastic way to open our conference and mark the start of National Reconciliation Week.

    Looking around at this room, it is great to see such strong support for our industry.

    Thank you to each and every one of you for the effort you have made to be here.

    It’s really valuable for us to come together and share knowledge and debate ideas, with the aim of constantly improving how we work, and how we can chart a brighter future for our industry and the nation in the years to come.

    We’ve already had some thoughtful speeches this morning.

    Thank you Sam for your dedication to promoting the great work of our members.

    And Minister King, thank you for your reflections and your strong advocacy for our industry.

    We look forward to continuing to work with you.

    I would also like to acknowledge that Senator Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Resources is here.

    Senator Chisolm, thank you for your attendance.

    Later this morning we’ll hear from former Australian Treasurer and Ambassador to the United States Joe Hockey and the Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Energy David Janetzki.

    I am very much looking forward to hearing their perspectives on the economic and energy challenges facing Australia, and nations around the world.

    I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Albanese Government on its election victory.

    Campaigning for office is not for the faint of heart. It takes passion, discipline and a belief in the idea that Australia can be better. I admire the commitment and endurance of those who run in modern-day elections.

    One vital pathway to building a brighter future for Australia is to ensure that we and our regional partners have the energy we need to build prosperity and succeed in the energy transition.

    So, I would also like to thank the Government for its clear acknowledgement of the critical role that gas plays in the Australian economy and in the nation’s trading relationships.

    The vital importance of gas has also been emphasised by the Liberals and Nationals, and we appreciate this bipartisan support.

    The Government’s Future Gas Strategy, led by Minister King, makes a powerful and compelling case for the role of gas in supporting the quality of life in Australia, and in providing energy security in our region.

    We thank the Minister for her leadership and vision in laying out this roadmap for Australia’s gas endowment.

    The opportunity now is to take real actions that deliver the Government’s Future Gas Strategy.

    And Minister King, you have our industry’s support in working together with all stakeholders to achieve this for the long-term.

    Celebration of the year’s success

    One of my favourite things about this conference is the chance to celebrate our industry’s success in helping meet Australia’s energy needs, and in delivering strong economic outcomes at local, state and national levels.

    I think it’s fitting we are here in Brisbane, because this year marks 10 years since the Queensland LNG industry began operating.

    It’s hard to imagine the Australian industry without our Queensland operators and I think we should celebrate this achievement with a round of applause.

    From the vast offshore fields of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Victoria – to the rich onshore basins of Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales – and to the emerging basins such as the Perth Basin and the Beetaloo – Australia’s oil and gas industry stands as a powerhouse of innovation and economic strength.

    By exploring, developing and producing these resources, we play a critical role in providing the energy needed in Australia and the Asian region.

    But we cannot take this for granted.

    Reflection on Australia’s energy edge

    For decades, Australia’s vast energy resources have provided a major competitive advantage for the nation’s economy.

    In particular, safe, affordable and reliable domestic gas has helped underpin the success of many Australian businesses, especially in mining and manufacturing.

    While the LNG industry has made a significant contribution to Australia’s prosperity through taxes and royalties, skilled jobs, community support and economic development.

    KPMG analysis commissioned by AEP found the gas industry contributed 105 billion dollars to Australia’s gross domestic product and supported 215,000 ongoing jobs across the economy in 2021-22.

    This is in addition to taxes and royalties paid to Australian governments, which in 2023‑24 totalled an estimated 17.1 billion dollars.

    But our energy edge is at risk.

    This is evidenced by forecasts of looming supply shortfalls on both the east and west coasts and weakened investor confidence in investing in new supply.

    AEP has this week released a Wood Mackenzie report that analysed Australia as an investment destination.

    The study involved data analysis and a survey of CEOs of AEP member companies.

    It makes for sobering reading, confirming what many in this room already know.

    Certainty around Australia’s energy and climate policies, environmental regulation and timely approvals is critical to driving investment.

    95 per cent of respondents said they have had investments directly impacted by a change in government policy or regulation.

    Of these investments, a fifth did not proceed or were relocated outside of Australia, and almost half were significantly delayed.

    Learning from experiences in prior years, we have an opportunity now to create the foundations for the next wave of energy investment in Australia.

    We must continue to make the most of our natural resources and our ingenuity, so that we keep jobs and revenue in Australia.

    Implications

    What is also at stake is the nation’s ability to compete on the global stage for the industries of the future.

    These include artificial intelligence, data centres, critical minerals manufacturing and no doubt sectors we haven’t even imagined yet. All of which depend on reliable and affordable power.

    The recent blackouts in Spain and Portugal are a forceful reminder of the consequences of losing reliable supplies of energy, upon which we rely for our daily lives and jobs.

    While the causes of the blackouts are still being investigated, what we can see with certainty is that these events reinforce the need to focus on energy security and energy affordability, as well as – and not instead of – emissions reduction.

    All three matter.

    When we lose sight of any one of these, all three are at risk.

    I am encouraged by evidence – including the Government’s Future Gas Strategy – that policymakers are increasingly willing to recognise and speak up for the critical importance of natural gas, including as the stabilising partner to higher levels of renewables and as a lower emissions source of power than coal.

    I welcome more government policy decisions to reflect the strategy in practice.

    And I think it is time that the opponents of our industry face up to the fact that they are making the energy transition harder and more risky by slowing down investment and trying to take practical options off the table.

    If Australia loses its energy edge, we also lose opportunities to contribute to decarbonisation at home and abroad.

    As we know, when used to generate electricity, gas typically produces half the life cycle emissions of coal.

    Coal demand in the Asia Pacific continues to grow and drive up global emissions.

    This underlines why Australia must maximise opportunities to supply LNG to Asian customers who want to reduce their reliance on coal through a combination of gas and renewables.

    Furthermore, the opportunity to service growing demand for natural gas is one that Australia’s competitor nations will seize, if Australia is not able to take the opportunities before it.

    For example – we have seen significant pro-energy investment policy changes in the USA with the change in administration, and I am eager to hear Joe Hockey’s take on this.

    But no one doubts where the US stands on developing its natural resources – the President has declared an Energy Emergency, and prioritised development of the US’s energy resources – both for domestic use and for customers abroad.

    And there is genuine urgency to tackle permitting reform and make energy investment easier.

    Our offer and our ask

    All of us in this room recognise the enormous opportunity that Australia has to help meet essential energy needs – and the necessity of doing so responsibly.

    Australian Energy Producers’ message to policymakers here in Australia, is that we will play our part in supplying affordable, reliable energy to customers, while also tackling climate change.

    We are committed to doing this through innovation and collaboration.

    We are designing and operating out emissions from our assets, implementing CCS, and diversifying into new lower-carbon commodities and technologies.

    As a proof point – Australia now has two of the world’s largest CCS projects, with the Gorgon project having sequestered over 11 million tons of CO2 since it commenced operations, and the Moomba CCS project starting up last year.

    Something else we’re committed to is ensuring the public discussion about energy policy includes balance and facts.

    Through AEP’s advocacy, we are calling out misinformation and disinformation campaigns that seek to downplay our sector’s significant economic and tax contribution, and the essential role of gas in achieving decarbonisation goals.

    We appreciate government efforts to help build community understanding of the role of gas and foster support for what we deliver.

    It’s vital that people hear the facts about gas and understand its importance to their lives, the Australian economy and decarbonising Asia.

    By equipping people with knowledge about energy production, consumption and role in the energy transition, we make it harder for our opponents to spread misinformation, and easier to have the respectful policy debates that can lead to better industry and environmental outcomes.

    With a new federal parliament elected, it is an opportunity to finally cut red and green tape, to simplify and streamline Australia’s approvals system.

    Cutting red and green tape will promote innovation, and enable businesses to thrive.

    And it will create more jobs for Australians.

    Streamlining approvals will also drive the productivity growth Australia needs to remain competitive in an increasingly protectionist world.

    And in news hot off the press, it was a huge relief last week to see the Native Title Tribunal clear a path for Santos’s much-needed Narrabri gas development to go ahead.

    As an industry, we look forward to working with new Environment Minister Murray Watt as he takes on the critical role of ensuring energy development in Australia is conducted responsibly and sustainably.

    We acknowledge that Minister Watt is working through the process to take a decision on the North West Shelf extension and we look forward to an outcome.

    We all recognise that energy development must meet rigorous environmental standards and maintain the confidence of the community.

    The Government’s Future Gas Strategy is a clear roadmap for policy reform to ensure that these objectives are met as the nation’s resources are responsibly developed.

    This includes implementing clear and unambiguous offshore consultation rules.

    Regulatory loopholes are in no-one’s interests.

    The industry fully supports consulting with impacted traditional owners and other stakeholders – but the rules for consultation must be clear to provide predictable outcomes for all parties.

    It is also essential that exploration resume in earnest in Australia.

    This starts with regular offshore acreage licensing rounds, and clear regulations around the well-proven and safe technology of seismic surveys.

    We must get exploration going now to ensure the energy future of the 2030’s and 2040’s is secure.

    Conclusion

    In closing, Australia has the key ingredients to sustain its energy edge for decades to come.

    We have been gifted natural resource potential like few other nations.

    We have the talented, capable and motivated workforce we need to unlock the potential.

    We have a long track record of supporting downstream domestic industries and providing feedstock and energy to build Australia’s prosperity.

    We also have proximity to the world’s fastest growing energy markets, who are looking for secure, reliable supplies to power their own development.

    We have the opportunity now to build on the decades of success – unlocking new resources, powering a bright future, and doing so responsibly.

    There will be headwinds, but we have the resilience and the vision as an industry to ensure that Australia’s energy edge delivers for every Australian, for decades to come.

    Thank you everyone, I wish you a great conference.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI China: UNESCO intangible cultural heritage: Qiang New Year Festival

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

    Editor’s note: The Qiang New Year Festival is a traditional celebration of the Qiang people, one of China’s oldest ethnic groups, often described as a “living fossil” in the evolutionary history of the Chinese nation. 

    Southwest China’s Sichuan province is home to the country’s only Qiang ethnic enclave, where approximately 300,000 Qiang people primarily reside in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture, and Beichuan Qiang autonomous county in Mianyang city. 

    Every year, on the first day of the 10th lunar month, the Qiang people celebrate their most significant traditional festival — the Qiang New Year. Centered around themes of worshiping heaven and expressing gratitude, they hold ceremonies during the festival to honor the gods, drive away evil, express gratitude for the harvest, and pray for blessings.

    The Qiang people are renowned for their talent in singing and dancing, exemplified by the Salang dance, a distinctive circle dance whose name means “sing and dance” in the Qiang language.

    In 2009, the Qiang New Year Festival was inscribed on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. In 2024, UNESCO inscribed the festival on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition highlights the significance of the festival in preserving the cultural traditions, social bonds and spiritual beliefs of the Qiang people.

    The Qiang New Year Festival, with a history that stretches back centuries, is deeply rooted in the agricultural and pastoral traditions of the Qiang people. Signaling renewal and hope for the coming year, it is both a cultural and social event, involving elaborate ceremonies that seek to ensure prosperity, health and harmony within the Qiang community.

    The festival’s origins are closely tied to the agricultural calendar, particularly the importance of seasonal cycles in the Qiang way of life. Traditionally, the Qiang people practiced farming and animal husbandry in the rugged, high-altitude regions of Sichuan, and their spiritual beliefs were deeply intertwined with nature. Their New Year Festival is a time to honor the spirits of the ancestors, the earth and the natural elements, while also celebrating the community’s resilience and unity.

    Participants engage in prayers at the rituals of the Qiang New Year Festival, hoping for bountiful harvests, good fortune and protection of their herds. The festival includes a variety of traditional activities, such as sacrificial rites, communal feasts, and performances of traditional Qiang music and dance, most notably the Qiang dance, which is often accompanied by the unique sound of bamboo instruments.

    In addition to these cultural elements, the festival is an important occasion for socializing. It fosters unity within the Qiang community, strengthening family and clan ties, and allows younger generations to learn and participate in the traditions of their elders.

    In recent decades, the festival has faced pressures from migration, changing lifestyles and the loss of traditional customs among younger generations. However, concerted efforts by local communities, cultural institutions and government agencies have helped revitalize and protect this important cultural practice.

    Local authorities in Sichuan province have actively worked to preserve the festival by promoting it as a cultural tourism event, which has brought attention and resources to the celebration. In addition, the establishment of cultural heritage programs, including the training of cultural bearers and the documentation of traditional practices, has helped ensure the survival of the festival’s rituals.

    The festival is increasingly recognized as an important part of China’s diverse cultural heritage, and its significance extends beyond the Qiang people themselves. The Qiang New Year Festival has been showcased in cultural exchange programs, and efforts to engage younger generations in the preservation of traditional practices are ongoing. 

    UNESCO’s recognition of the Qiang New Year Festival emphasized its role as a vital cultural expression of the Qiang people and its importance in maintaining the community’s traditional values, social cohesion and spiritual beliefs. UNESCO praised the festival for its diversity of rituals, ceremonies and performances, highlighting the way it fosters a deep connection to nature and the ancestors.

    The organization also noted the importance of preserving the festival for future generations. UNESCO emphasized the need for education, intergenerational transmission, and community participation to sustain the festival amid modern influences. Furthermore, UNESCO’s designation highlighted the role of the Qiang New Year Festival in promoting intercultural understanding, as it offers a glimpse into the unique cultural traditions of one of China’s many ethnic minority groups.

    Discover more treasures from China on UNESCO’s ICH list:

    • 2024: Spring Festival

    • 2022: Traditional tea processing

    • 2020: Wangchuan ceremony, taijiquan

    • 2018: Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa

    • 2016: Twenty-four solar terms

    • 2013: Abacus-based Zhusuan

    • 2012: Training plan for Fujian puppetry performers

    • 2011: Shadow puppetry, Yimakan storytelling

    • 2010: Peking opera, acupuncture and moxibustion, wooden movable-type printing, watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junks, Meshrep

    • 2009: Yueju opera, Xi’an wind and percussion ensemble, traditional handicrafts of making Xuan paper, traditional firing techniques of Longquan celadon, Tibetan opera, sericulture and silk craftsmanship, Regong arts, Nanyin, Khoomei, Mazu belief and customs, Dragon Boat Festival, Manas, Craftsmanship of Nanjing Yunjin brocade, Xinjiang Uygur Muqam art, Hua’er, China engraved block printing technique, Chinese traditional architectural craftsmanship for timber-framed structures, Chinese paper-cut, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese seal engraving, Grand song of Dong ethnic group, Traditional Li textile techniques, Traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges, Farmers’ dance of China’s Korean ethnic group, Gesar epic tradition

    • 2008: Kunqu opera, Guqin, Urtiin Duu

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia unlock new investment channels at capital markets forum

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

    The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) and Saudi Tadawul Group jointly hosted the second “Hong Kong-Saudi Capital Markets Forum” in Hong Kong on Thursday, bringing together industry leaders to explore the evolving landscape and opportunities in Asian, Middle Eastern, and global capital markets.

    The two-day forum, themed “Powering Connections,” featured in-depth discussions on cross-regional investment prospects, followed by a series of business-matching sessions. In collaboration with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, the event facilitated over 600 scheduled meetings between enterprises and investors from both markets.

    Additionally, the “Premia BOCHK Saudi Arabia Government Sukuk ETF” was officially launched during the forum.

    Paul Chan, financial secretary of the HKSAR government, said that the Middle East is home to many high-quality enterprises, and the HKSAR will further strengthen ties with the region by sharing Hong Kong’s expertise in connectivity mechanisms with the Chinese mainland.

    “Beyond stocks and ETFs, there is vast potential for collaboration in infrastructure and professional services,” he said, adding that the Linked Exchange Rate System remains effective and will not be altered.

    Bonnie Chan, chief executive officer of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, said that the forum underscored the growing synergy, capital flow potential, and mutual investment opportunities between the Middle East, the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong.

    “As a ‘super connector,’ HKEX is committed to enhancing financial infrastructure and advancing partnerships to offer Asian investors greater access to Gulf markets and foster two-way capital flows between Asia and the Middle East,” she said.

    Representatives from Saudi Arabia said that the Saudi capital market serves as a vital bridge between East and West, renowned for its depth, resilience, and openness to global investors. They reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to market expansion, strengthening international linkages, and driving sustainable development.

    The forum attracted over 500 participants, including financial leaders, regulators, investors, and corporate representatives from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and beyond. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: French politicians in New Caledonia to stir the political melting pot

    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk

    French national politicians have been in New Caledonia as the territory’s future remains undecided.

    Leaders from both right-wing Les Républicains (LR) and Rassemblement National (RN), — vice-president François-Xavier Bellamy and Marine Le Pen respectively — have been in the French Pacific territory this week.

    They expressed their views about New Caledonia’s political, economic and social status one year after riots broke out in May 2024.

    Since then, latest attempts to hold political talks between all stakeholders and France have been met with fluctuating responses, but the latest round of discussions earlier this month ended in a stalemate.

    This was because hardline pro-France parties regarded the project of “sovereignty with France” offered by French Overseas Minister Manuel Valls was not acceptable. They consider that three self-determination referendums held in 2018, 2020 and 2021 rejected independence.

    However, the last referendum, in December 2021, was largely boycotted by the pro-independence movement and its followers due to indigenous Kanak cultural concerns around the covid-19 pandemic.

    The pro-France camp is accusing Valls of siding with the pro-independence FLNKS bloc and other more moderate parties such as PALIKA (Kanak Liberation Party) and UPM (Union Progressiste en Mélanésie), who want independence from France.

    Transferring key powers
    Valls is considering transferring key French powers to New Caledonia, introducing a double French/New Caledonian citizenship, and an international standing.

    The pro-France camp is adamant that this ignores the three no referendum votes.

    Speaking to a crowd of several hundred supporters in Nouméa on Tuesday evening, Bellamy said he now favoured going ahead with modifying conditions of eligibility for voters at local provincial elections.

    The same attempts to change the locked local electoral roll — which is restricted to people residing in New Caledonia from before November 1998 — was widely perceived as the main cause for the May 2024 riots, which left 14 dead.

    Bellamy said giving in to violence that erupted last year was out of the question because it was “an attempt to topple a democratic process”.

    Les Républicains, to which the Rassemblement-LR local party is affiliated, is one of the major parties in the French Parliament.

    Its newly-elected president Bruno Retailleau is the Minister for Home Affairs in French President Emmanuel Macron’s coalition government.

    Nouméa Accord ‘now over’
    Bellamy told a crowd of supporters in Nouméa that in his view the decolonisation process prescribed by the 1998 Nouméa Accord “is now over”.

    “New Caledonians have democratically decided, three times, that they belong to France. And this should be respected,” he told a crowd during a political rally.

    In Nouméa, Bellamy said if the three referendum results were ignored as part of a future political agreement, then LR could go as far as pulling out of the French government.

    Marine Le Pen, this week also expressed her views on New Caledonia’s situation, saying instead of focusing on the territory’s institutional future, the priority should be placed on its economy, which is still reeling from the devastation caused during the 2024 riots.

    The efforts included diversifying the economy.

    A Paris court convicted Le Pen and two dozen (RN) party members of embezzling European Union funds last month, and imposed a sentence that will prevent her from standing in France’s 2027 presidential election unless she can get the ruling overturned within 18 months.

    The high-profile visits to New Caledonia from mainland French leaders come within two years of France’s scheduled presidential elections.

    And it looks like New Caledonia could become a significant issue in the pre-poll debates and campaign.

    LFI (La France Insoumise), a major party in the French Parliament, and its caucus leader Mathilde Panot also visited New Caledonia from May 9-17, this time mainly focusing on supporting the pro-independence camp’s views.

    Macron invites all parties for fresh talks in Paris
     On Tuesday, May 27, the French President’s office issued a brief statement indicating that it had decided to convene “all stakeholders” for fresh talks in Paris in mid-June.

    The talks would aim at “clarifying” New Caledonia’s economic, political and institutional situation with a view to reaching “a shared agreement”.

    Depending on New Caledonia’s often opposing political camps, Macron’s announcement is perceived either as a dismissal of Valls’ approach or a mere continuation of the overseas minister’s efforts, but at a higher level.

    New Caledonia’s pro-France parties are adamant that Macron’s proposal is entirely new and that it signifies Valls’ approach has been disavowed at the highest level.

    Valls himself wrote to New Caledonia’s political stakeholders last weekend, insisting on the need to pursue talks through a so-called “follow-up committee”.

    It is not clear whether the “follow-up committee” format is what Macron has in mind.

    But at the weekend, Valls made statements on several French national media outlets, stressing that he was still the one in charge of New Caledonia’s case.

    “The one who is taking care of New Caledonia’s case, at the request of French Prime Minister François Bayrou, that’s me and no one else,” Valls told French national news channel LCI on May 25.

    “I’m not being disavowed by anyone.”

    Local parties still willing to talk
     Most parties have since reacted swiftly to Macron’s call, saying they were ready to take part in further discussions.

    Rassemblement-LR leader Virginie Ruffenach said this was “necessary to clarify the French state’s position”.

    She said the clarification was needed, since Valls, during his last visit, “offered an independence solution that goes way beyond what the pro-independence camp was even asking”.

    Local pro-France figure and New Caledonia’s elected MP at the French National Assembly, Nicolas Metzdorf, met Macron in Paris last Friday.

    He said at the time that an “initiative” from the French president was to be expected.

    Pro-independence bloc FLNKS said Valls’ proposal was now “the foundation stone”.

    Spokesman Dominique Fochi said the invitation was scheduled to be discussed at a special FLNKS convention this weekend.

    Valls’ ‘independence-association’ solution worries other French territories
     Because of the signals it sends, New Caledonia’s proposed political future plans are also causing concern in other French overseas territories, including their elected MPs in Paris.

    In the French Senate on Wednesday, French Polynesia’s MP Lana Tetuanui, who is pro-France, asked during question time for French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to explain what France was doing in the Pacific region in the face of growing influence from major powers such as China.

    She told the minister she still had doubts, “unless of course France is considering sinking its own aircraft carrier ships named New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna”.

    French president Emmanuel Macron has been on a southeast Asian tour this week to Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore, where he will be the keynote speaker of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue.

    He delivers his speech today to mark the opening of the 22nd edition of the Dialogue, Asia’s premier defence summit.

    The event brings together defence ministers, military leaders and senior defence officials, as well as business leaders and security experts, from across the Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America and beyond to discuss critical security and geopolitical challenges.

    More specifically on the Pacific region, Macron also said one of France’s future challenges included speeding up efforts to “build a new strategy in New Caledonia and French Polynesia”.

    As part of Macron’s Indo-Pacific doctrine, developed since 2017, France earlier this year deployed significant forces in the region, including its naval and air strike group and its only aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle.

    The multinational exercise, called Clémenceau 25, involved joint exercises with allied forces from Australia, Japan and the United States.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Gebrüder Weiss expands into Thailand

    Source: Gebrüder Weiss

    Logistics company continues to expand its network in South-East Asia / 20-strong team in Bangkok organizes air and sea freight transportation

    Bangkok / Lauterach, May 30, 2025. Gebrüder Weiss is set to open a new country organization in Thailand on June 1, 2025. The international transport and logistics company is strengthening its market presence in Southeast Asia and expanding its network in one of the world’s most economically dynamic regions.

    “The new country organization allows us to close a strategic gap and create direct connections to central Asia-Pacific markets for our customers,” says Lothar Thoma, Managing Director Air & Sea at Gebrüder Weiss. “Thailand is an important export location with strong trade links to the USA, China, Japan, Australia, and Singapore – markets where we are also represented with locations of our own.”

    In 2024, Thailand posted export volumes worth around 300 billion US dollars, up five percent on the previous year. Industrial goods account for the majority of outbound trade (86 percent), with key categories including electronics, vehicles, machinery, and food.

    The team of 20 employees in Bangkok provides international air and sea freight transportation, customs handling, and national and cross-border land transport services. “Our employees have many years of experience in international transport management. In the medium term, we are aiming to expand our services in Thailand to include warehouse logistics, with a particular focus on the automotive and high-tech sectors,” says Cristian Predan, Area Manager South-East Asia at Gebrüder Weiss.

    With its entry into the Thai market, Gebrüder Weiss now has an active presence in nine countries across the East and South-East Asia region and Oceania. These include Australia, Greater China, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam. The regional network now spans 35 locations with around 800 employees.

    Team Thailand

    Port of Laem Chabang

    Lothar Thoma

    Cristian Predan

    GW locations Asia

    GW locations Oceania

    About Gebrüder Weiss

    Gebrüder Weiss Holding AG, based in Lauterach, Austria, is a globally operative full-service logistics provider with about 8,600 employees at 180 company-owned locations. The company generated revenues of 2.71 billion euros in 2024. Its portfolio encompasses transport and logistics solutions, digital services, and supply chain management. The twin strengths of digital and physical competence enable Gebrüder Weiss to respond swiftly and flexibly to customers’ needs. The family-run organization – with a history going back more than half a millennium – has implemented a wide variety of environmental, economic, and social initiatives. Today, it is also considered a pioneer in sustainable business practices. www.gw-world.com

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM meets counterparts from Pacific Island countries

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

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Federated States of Micronesia’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lorin S. Robert attending the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province, May 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    XIAMEN, May 29 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday held respective meetings with foreign guests attending the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Xiamen, Fujian Province.

    When meeting with the Federated States of Micronesia’s (FSM) Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lorin S. Robert, Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the two heads of state had reached an important consensus on strengthening mutual trust and friendship, and on deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.

    China appreciates the resolution passed by the Congress of the FSM in support of the one-China principle, and believes that the FSM will continue to support China’s just position on Taiwan-related issues firmly, Wang said.

    China is ready to expand cooperation with the FSM in key areas such as infrastructure, climate change response and marine research, and promote the continuous development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, he added.

    Robert extended his congratulations on the successful conclusion of the foreign ministers’ meeting and affirmed the FSM’s steadfast commitment to the one-China principle. The country is willing to continue developing its comprehensive strategic partnership with China, he added.

    When meeting with Vanuatu’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade Marc Ati, Wang said that the China-Vanuatu comprehensive strategic partnership has continued to develop under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries.

    Since the new government of Vanuatu took office in February, it has maintained a positive, friendly policy on China, which China appreciates, Wang said. The two countries should seize this opportunity to strengthen exchange at all levels and expand practical cooperation, he noted.

    Ati said that China’s support not only helps Vanuatu improve its people’s livelihoods, but also enhances its confidence and resilience in development.

    Vanuatu’s government adheres firmly to the one-China principle, and is ready to strengthen the synergy of development strategies with China, accelerate negotiations for bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), promote cooperation in such fields as education, infrastructure, health and law enforcement, and move toward a more prosperous future, Ati said.

    When meeting with Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Justin Tkatchenko, Wang said that the two countries should implement the consensus reached between their leaders, open FTA negotiations as soon as possible, and deepen cooperation in various fields.

    China values Papua New Guinea’s influence as a major power in the South Pacific, as well as its role as a gateway to Asia, Wang said, adding that China is willing to work with Papua New Guinea and other Pacific Island nations to implement the outcomes of the foreign ministers’ meeting, and to make greater contributions to regional peace and development.

    Tkatchenko said that Papua New Guinea’s relationship with China is crucial. The government of Papua New Guinea is in firm support of China’s efforts to uphold its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Papua New Guinea is willing to communicate and coordinate closely with China to promote Belt and Road cooperation, and to enhance practical cooperation on agriculture, education, telecommunication, energy and regional development.

    Wang also met with Nauru’s former President and current Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Russ Kun, Fiji’s Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Lenora Qereqeretabua, and the Pacific Islands Forum’s Deputy Secretary General Esala Nayasi.

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Vanuatu’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade Marc Ati attending the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province, May 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Justin Tkatchenko attending the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province, May 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Fiji’s Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Lenora Qereqeretabua attending the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province, May 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Elon Musk promises more risky launches after sixth Starship failure

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Webb, Lecturer, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology

    What goes up must come down, and earlier this week yet another of SpaceX’s Starships, the biggest and most powerful type of rocket ever built, came back down to Earth in spectacular fashion. In the sky above the Indian Ocean, it exploded.

    This was the ninth test flight for the rocket, and the third catastrophic failure in a row, just this year.

    Is this what we should expect from the very ship some are counting on to take humans further than we’ve ever been in the solar system? Or does this failure point to deeper concerns within the broader program?

    A decade of development

    The Starship program from Elon Musk’s space technology company, SpaceX, has been in development for more than a decade now and has undergone many iterations in its overall design and goals.

    The Starship concept is based upon the SpaceX Raptor engines to be used in a multistage system. In a multistage rocket system, there are often two or three separate blocks with their own engine and fuel reserves. These are particularly important for leaving Earth’s orbit and travelling to the Moon, Mars and beyond.

    With Starship, the key factor is the ability to land and reuse vast amounts of the rocket stages again and again. The company’s Falcon 9 vehicles, which used this model, were fantastically successful.

    Initial tests of Starship began in 2018 with two low-altitude flights showing early success. Subsequent flights have faced numerous challenges with now four complete failures, two partial failures and three successes overall.

    Just two days ago, during the latest failed attempt, I watched alongside over 200 other space industry experts at the Australian Space Summit in Sydney. Broadcast live on a giant screen, the launch generated an excited buzz – which soon turned to reserved murmurs.

    Of course, designing and launching rockets is hard, and failures are to be expected. However, a third catastrophic failure within six months demands a pause for reflection.

    On this particular test flight, as Starship positioned itself for atmospheric re-entry, one of its 13 engines failed to ignite. Shortly after, a booster appeared to explode, leading to a complete loss of control. The rocket ultimately broke apart over the Indian Ocean, which tonnes of debris will now call home.

    Polluting Earth in pursuit of space

    We don’t know the exact financial cost of each test flight. But Musk has previously said it is about US$50–100 million.

    The exact environmental cost of the Starship program – and its repeated failures – is even harder to quantify.

    For example, a failed test flight in 2023 left the town of Port Isabel, Texas, which is located beside the launch site, shaking and covered in a thick cloud of dirt. Debris from the exploded rocket smashed cars. Residents told the New York Times they were terrified. They also had to clean up the mess from the flight.

    Then, in September 2024, SpaceX was fined by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for 14 separate incidents since 2022 where the launch facilities discharged polluted water into Texas waterways. Musk denied these claims.

    That same month, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed a fine of US$633,009 in civil penalties should be issued to SpaceX. This was on the grounds of using an unapproved launch control room and other violations during 2023. Musk denied these claims too and threatened to countersue the FAA for “regulatory overreach”.

    It’s unclear if this suit was ever filed.

    Two other failed launches in January and March this year also rained rocket debris over the Caribbean, and disrupted hundreds of commercial flights, including 80 which needed to be diverted and more than 400 requiring delayed takeoff to ensure they were entering safe air space.

    Success of different space programs

    Until last year, the FAA allowed SpaceX to try up to five Starship launches a year. This month, the figure was increased to 25.

    A lot can go wrong during a launch of a vehicle to space. And there is a long way to go until we can properly judge whether Starship successfully meets its mission goals.

    We can, however, look at past programs to understand typical success rates seen across different rocketry programs.

    The Saturn V rocket, the workhorse of the Apollo era, had a total of 13 launches, with only one partial failure. It underwent three full ground tests before flight.

    SpaceX’s own Falcon 9 rocket, has had more than 478 successful launches, only two in flight failures, one partial failure and one pre-flight destruction.

    The Antares rocket, by Orbital Sciences Corporation (later Orbital ATK and Northrop Grumman) launched a total of 18 times, with one failure.

    The Soyuz rocket, originally a Soviet expendable carrier rocket designed in the 1960s, launched a total of 32 times, with two failures.

    No sign of caution

    Of course, we can’t fairly compare all other rockets with the Starship. Its goals are certainly novel as a reusable heavy-class rocket.

    But this latest failure does raise some questions. Will the Starship program ever see success – and if so when? And what are the limits of our tolerance as a society to the pollution of Earth in the pursuit of the goal to space?

    For a rocketry program that’s moving so fast, developing novel and complex technology, and experiencing several repeated failures, many people might expect caution from now on. Musk, however, has other plans.

    Shortly after the most recent Starship failure, he announced on X (formerly Twitter, that the next test flights would occur at a faster pace: one every three to four weeks.

    Sara Webb 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. Elon Musk promises more risky launches after sixth Starship failure – https://theconversation.com/elon-musk-promises-more-risky-launches-after-sixth-starship-failure-257726

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Summer EBT for school-aged children returns for second year

    Source: US State of Oregon

    regon Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) is a food benefits program that helps shrink the hunger gap when children are on summer break and don’t have easy access to healthy meals at school. Summer EBT provides $120 per eligible child to buy food.

    This is the second year of Oregon’s Summer EBT program. On May 22, 2025, about 336,000 children got the benefit on an Oregon EBT card. Families should check their EBT card balance at www.ebtedge.com to confirm receipt.

    Families who didn’t automatically get Summer EBT on May 22, 2025 should check program requirements before applying. Families can check requirements at sebt.oregon.gov or by contacting the Summer EBT Call Center at 833-673-7328. The Call Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., PDT. Apply online in English and Spanish or with a paper application in multiple languages at sebt.oregon.gov.

    “When school doors close for the summer, the need for regular, healthy meals doesn’t disappear. Last year, the summer EBT program bridged a critical gap for thousands of Oregon families, helping to replace those essential 10 meals per child, per week, that they receive when school is in session,” said Dr. Charlene Williams, Director of the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). “We are proud to continue this partnership with ODHS to not only feed children, but to nurture their potential during crucial developmental months. Our continued commitment ensures that summer can be a season of growth and opportunity for all children, regardless of their economic circumstances.”

    In 2024, about 362,000 children participated and received $43 million in Summer EBT food benefits their families spent in their local grocery stores, farmers markets, and other places.

    “Summer EBT is one more way we can prevent kids from going hungry when school is out. Summer EBT is an evidence-based program proven to reduce child hunger and support healthier diets,” said Fariborz Pakseresht, ODHS Director. “Child hunger can have lasting impacts on health and academic achievement. Getting every eligible child connected to Summer EBT will help Oregon’s children thrive year-round and as they grow up.”

    Who is eligible for Summer EBT food benefits?

    Families can find details about Summer EBT at sebt.oregon.gov.

    Your school-age child may be automatically eligible if:

    • Your family received Summer EBT benefits through an approved application in 2024.
    • Your family gets SNAP, TANF or Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) and meets income rules.
    • Your child gets free or reduced-price school meals and meets income rules.
    • Your child is in foster care, in migrant education, in a qualified Head Start, experiencing homelessness, or part of the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).

    Children who are automatically eligible received Summer EBT on May 22, 2025.

    Your school-age child may be eligible by application if:

    • Your family meets the federal income requirements for free or reduced-price meals at school, and
    • Your child attends a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP).

    Families must apply by Sept. 3, 2025.

    Receiving Summer EBT does not impact participation in other summer meal programs.

    Summer EBT benefits are not considered in a public charge test and are available to children regardless of immigration status.

    How will families receive Summer EBT food benefits?

    The benefits will be placed on an Oregon EBT card and can be used at most grocery stores, farmers markets, and more.

    Families that need a new card should call 855-328-6715, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PDT).

    Families that think their children may be eligible and didn’t get benefits on May 22 must apply by September 3. If approved, they will receive an Oregon EBT card by mail.

    Stolen Summer EBT benefits can’t be replaced.

    You can protect your Oregon EBT card and benefits from electronic theft by following a few simple tips.

    Where can families get more information?

    To learn more, or to apply, visit sebt.oregon.gov.

    Call the Oregon Summer EBT Call Center at 1-833-673-7328 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PDT) on weekdays. All relay calls accepted.

    More about Summer EBT

    Summer EBT became a permanent program for states and certain Indian Tribal Organizations through the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. Most states began providing Summer EBT in June 2024. Oregon’s participation was made possible through an investment from the Oregon State Legislature of $12 million. That investment will draw $83 million in federal funding to Oregon, mostly in the form of food benefits families will spend in their communities.

    Additional resources to help meet basic needs

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM meets with chairman of Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council

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

    HONG KONG, May 29 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met with Surakiart Sathirathai, chairman of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council (APRC) and former Thai deputy prime minister who is here to attend the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed).

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China’s initiative to establish the IOMed provides a new option for the international community to resolve disputes and achieve reconciliation on a voluntary basis, adding that it is also a concrete action to uphold multilateralism and fulfill the spirit of the United Nations Charter.

    China is willing to work together with Asian countries to effectively utilize regional mechanisms of China-ASEAN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, in order to jointly safeguard the hard-won peace and stability in Asia, he noted.

    Surakiart said he is honored to be invited to Hong Kong to witness the birth of the IOMed, noting that under the current international situation, the Chinese initiative is timely.

    The APRC looks forward to strengthening collaboration with the Chinese side to make greater contributions to peace and development in Asia, he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Announces More Than $6.4 Million to Support Affordable Housing in Tribal Communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins

    Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that five tribal communities in Maine have been awarded a total of $6,456,253 through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG). These grants support the development and maintenance of affordable housing.

    “This funding will help address critical housing needs, improve quality of life, and strengthen tribal communities across our state,” said Senator Collins. “As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I remain committed to working to ensure that tribal communities in Maine have the resources needed to provide safe, affordable housing.”

    The funding is allocated as follows:

    1. Penobscot Nation: $2,284,938
    1. Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township: $1,135,316
    1. Mi’kmaq Nation: $1,129,607
    1. Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point: $1,112,321
    1. Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians: $794,071

    The IHBG program provides funding for a various affordable housing activities, including construction, rehabilitation, and housing services tailored to the unique needs of tribal communities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom proclaims Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

    Source: US State of California Governor

    May 29, 2025

    Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring May 2025, as “Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.”

    The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below:

    PROCLAMATION

    California is home to more than 6 million Californians of Asian or Pacific Islander descent, each invaluable to our state and nation. During Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we celebrate all the ways in which AAPI Californians enrich and strengthen our society as part of California’s incredibly diverse heritage.

    Unfortunately, throughout our history, AAPI communities have been the target of violence, disenfranchisement, discrimination, and other xenophobic policies at the federal, state, and local levels. Echoes of this dark history are still evident in shameful anti-Asian hate acts seen across the country. We must confront past and present racism and fight for the safety and inclusion of our AAPI friends and neighbors, who continue to show strength and resilience in the face of this discrimination.

    AAPI communities in California have created and sustained some of the oldest and strongest cultural enclaves in the country, offering refuge and connection during times of hardship. Rebuilt from the ground up after the 1906 earthquake and fire, Chinatown in San Francisco is the oldest and largest in North America. All three remaining Japantowns in the country are in California – each with residents resilient enough to rebuild these thriving neighborhoods after they returned from unjust imprisonment in internment camps to ransacked homes and businesses. Across California, communities like Cambodia Town in Long Beach, Little Saigon in Orange County, Historic Filipinotown and Koreatown in Los Angeles, and Little India in Artesia are now thriving cultural enclaves, but many of these distinct neighborhoods were born of discrimination and segregation. Today, Californians from over 30 different countries and communities, including Native Hawaiians, live inside and outside of these historic boundaries. Their pride in their heritage and in themselves, in spite of prejudice, has always been and continues to be foundational to this state. 

    Few movements and turning points in California history were not shaped, at least in part, by AAPI leaders. Throughout California’s history, AAPI communities have driven change, doing so not just for themselves but in solidarity and partnership with other communities. We would not be the same without the AAPI communities and individuals that have made this state the leader it is in arts and culture, in labor rights and human rights, in business starts, in research, and so much more.

    During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, California takes the opportunity to pay tribute to the irreplaceable legacy of our AAPI communities, their incredible strength and resilience, and their essential role in driving our state and nation forward. This month and every month, let us celebrate all members of our California family and work together to achieve the promise of a California for all.

    NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim May 2025 as “Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.”

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 27th day of May 2025.

    GAVIN NEWSOM
    Governor of California

    ATTEST:
    SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
    Secretary of State

    Recent news

    May 28, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:LaCandice Ochoa, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of the Independent Living and Community Access Division at the Department of Rehabilitation. Ochoa has been Dean of…

    May 28, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement after a federal court ruled today that President Trump exceeded his use of emergency powers to enact broad-sweeping tariffs that hurt states, consumers, and businesses: “Like we said when we filed…

    May 28, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bill:SB 49 by Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) – Tribal gaming: compact and amendment ratification.For full text of the bill, visit: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.  Recent…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The road leading up to introduction of bill S-2

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Backgrounder

    Key Moments: 

    • In 2018 and 2019, there was a collaborative consultation process on reform with First Nations. Input was received from over 650 participants, representing 395 First Nation communities and/or a tribal councils. The conclusion was that Canada should work with First Nations to proactively address issues related to registration and band membership provisions of the Indian Act.
    • In 2019, An Act to amend the Indian Act in response to the Superior Court of Quebec decision in Descheneaux c. Canada (Procureur général), Bill S-3, came into full force, eliminating various sex-based inequities in the registration provisions of the Indian Act. 
    • In 2020 the Final Report to Parliament on the Review of S-3 acknowledged that residual inequities still remained in the Indian Act. These included the impacts of a family history of enfranchisement on entitlement to registration, an inequity that exists to this day. 
    • In June 2021, on behalf of 16 individual plaintiffs, Juristes Power Law launched a Charter challenge seeking to end the inequities and exclusion faced by families descended from forebears who were enfranchised under earlier versions of the Indian Act. This is referred to as the Nicholas v. AGC civil claim. 
    • In March 2022, the litigation was placed in abeyance, in order to allow the parties to pursue an out of court legislative solution to end the ongoing impacts of enfranchisement. 
    • The Department held over 50 virtual engagement sessions, which included more than 300 participants, from August to December 2022. 
    • Further consultation with First Nations, Indigenous organizations who represent non-status First Nations, and other interested or impacted individuals, will be required to co-develop options to address the broader suite of remaining issues in the registration and band membership provisions of the Indian Act.
    • On January 6, 2025, Bill C-38 died on the Order Paper, following Parliament dissolution due to the election.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The honourable Mandy Gull-Masty applauds the introduction of a new bill to address remaining inequities and band membership provisions of the Indian Act

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    May 29, 2025 — Ottawa, unceded Anishinaabeg Territory, Ontario — Indigenous Services Canada 

    Today, the Honourable Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced the introduction of Bill S-2 in the Senate, which addresses some of the remaining inequities in the registration and band membership provisions of the Indian Act.

    Bill S-2 replaces former Bill C-38 which was introduced in December of 2022, but did not receive Royal Assent before Parliament was dissolved in March 2025.

    The introduction of this Bill early in the current legislative session reiterates the Government of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation and to eliminating inequities that continue to impact First Nations individuals and families. 

    Bill S-2 proposes amendments in four key areas: enfranchisement, voluntary deregistration, natal band reaffiliation and membership, and the removal of outdated and offensive language related to dependent persons. These changes respond directly to concerns raised by First Nations and individuals impacted by the Indian Act‘s residual inequities. 

    If passed, the legislation would ensure that individuals with family histories of enfranchisement are entitled to registration under the Indian Act and extend entitlement to their descendants.

    Bill S-2 continues the legacy of former Bill C-38 which was developed from extensive engagement efforts, including over 50 virtual sessions held with First Nations, Indigenous organizations, and other partners. These discussions were instrumental in shaping the proposed amendments. It is estimated that approximately 3,500 individuals could become newly entitled to registration as a result of the changes in the first five years after it passes.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New High Commissioner to the UK announced

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Hamish Cooper as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. “New Zealand’s relationship with the UK is one of our most important. “Mr Cooper is one of New Zealand’s most senior and experienced diplomats and is eminently well-qualified to take on this significant role,” Mr Peters says.Over his 40-year career at the Ministry, Mr Cooper has held several important roles including as New Zealand’s Ambassador to Japan, Russia, and Türkiye. He will take up the role in September.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Earth’s seasonal rhythms are changing, putting species and ecosystems at risk

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Hernández Carrasco, PhD Candidate in Ecology, University of Canterbury

    Shutterstock/Colin Stephenson

    Seasonality shapes much of life on Earth. Most species, including humans, have synchronised their own rhythms with those of Earth’s seasons.

    Plant growth cycles, the migration of billions of animals, and even aspects of human culture – from harvest rituals to Japanese cherry blossom viewings – are dictated by these dominant rhythms.

    However, climate change and many other human impacts are altering Earth’s cycles. While humans can adapt their behaviour by shifting the timing of crop harvests or Indigenous fire-burning practices, species are less able to adapt through evolution or range shifts.

    Our new research highlights how the impacts of shifting seasons can cascade through ecosystems, with widespread repercussions that may be greater than previously thought.

    This puts species and ecosystems at risk the world over. We are still far from having a full picture of what changes in seasonality mean for the future of biodiversity.

    Almost every ecosystem on Earth has seasons

    From tropical forests to polar ice caps and abyssal depths, the annual journey of Earth around the Sun brings distinct seasons to all corners of the planet.

    These seasonal rhythms shape ecosystems everywhere, whether through monsoonal rains in equatorial regions or the predictable melt of snowpack in mountain ranges.

    But the seasonality of these processes is changing rapidly due to local human impacts. This includes dams in many rivers, which completely and abruptly disrupt their natural flow, and deforestation, which changes the timing of the onset of the rain season.

    These local influences are compounded by climate change, which is systematically modifying seasonal patterns in snow cover, temperature and rainfall around the world.

    Monsoon rains represent one of Earth’s major seasonal cycles.
    Shutterstock/Milju varghese

    From the earlier seasonal melting of glaciers and the snowpack to the disruption of monsoonal rain cycles, the effects of these changes are being felt widely.

    Many important ecological processes we rely on could be affected. A mismatch between plankton blooms and the life cycles of fish could affect the health of fisheries. Tourism dependent on seasonal migrations of large mammals could suffer. Even the regulation of the climate system itself is tightly controlled by seasonal processes.

    Changing seasonality threatens to destabilise key ecological processes and human society.

    Evolutionary adaptations to seasonal fluctuations

    The seasonal rhythms of ecosystems are obvious to any observer. The natural timing of annual flowers and deciduous trees – tuned to match seasonal variations in rainfall, temperature and solar radiation – transforms the colours of whole landscapes throughout the year.

    The arrival and departure of migratory birds, the life cycle of insects and amphibians, and the mating rituals of large mammals can completely change the soundscapes with the seasons.

    These examples illustrate how seasonality acts as a strong evolutionary force that has shaped the life cycles and behaviour of most species. But, in the face of unprecedented changes to Earth’s natural rhythms, these adaptations can lead to complex negative impacts.

    Snowshoe hares are struggling to adapt to shifts in the timing of the first snowfall and melt.
    Shutterstock/Karen Hogan

    For instance, snowshoe hares change coat colour between winter and summer to blend in with their surroundings and hide from predators. They are struggling to adapt to shifts in the timing of the first snow and snowmelt. The impact of changing seasonality on hare populations is linked with changes in predation rates. But predators themselves may also be out of sync with the new onset of seasons.

    Our research highlights that these kinds of complex interactions can propagate impacts through ecosystems, linking individual species’ seasonal adaptations to broader food web dynamics, or even ecosystem functions such as carbon sequestration.

    Although biologists have studied seasonal processes for centuries, we know surprisingly little about how they mediate any ecological impacts of altered seasonality. Our findings show we are likely underestimating these impacts.

    The distinct mechanisms involved deserve further attention. Until we account for these complex processes, we risk overlooking important ecological and human consequences.

    The more we understand, the better prepared we are

    Understanding the extent to which impacts of altered seasonality can interact and propagate from individuals to whole ecosystems is a big challenge. It will require different types of research, complex mathematical modelling and the design of new experiments. But it is not easy to manipulate the seasons in an experiment.

    Scientists have come up with inventive ways of experimentally testing the effects of altered seasonality. This includes manually removing snow early in spring, manipulating rainfall patterns through irrigation and moving plants and animals to places with different seasonality.

    Some researchers have even recovered seeds from centuries-old collections to sprout them and look at how recent changes in climate have affected plant populations.

    These efforts will be of great value for forecasting impacts and designing effective management strategies beneficial for ecosystems and humans alike. Such efforts help to anticipate future shocks and prioritise interventions.

    For instance, understanding the mechanisms that allow native and non-native species to anticipate seasonal changes has proven useful for “tricking” non-native plants into sprouting only in the wrong season. This gives an advantage to native plants.

    Similarly, studies on the molecular mechanisms involved in the response to seasonality can help us determine whether certain species are likely to adapt to further changes in seasonal patterns. This research can also point out genes that could be targeted for improving the resilience and productivity of crops.

    Not only are we likely underestimating the ecological risks of shifting seasons, we tend to forget how much our everyday lives depend on them. As Earth’s rhythms change, the risks multiply. But so does our opportunity to better understand, anticipate and adapt to these changes.

    Daniel Hernández Carrasco receives funding from a Doctoral Scholarship by the University of Canterbury.

    Jonathan Tonkin receives funding from a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship administered by the Royal Society Te Apārangi and the Centres of Research Excellence Bioprotection Aotearoa and Te Pūnaha Matatini.

    – ref. Earth’s seasonal rhythms are changing, putting species and ecosystems at risk – https://theconversation.com/earths-seasonal-rhythms-are-changing-putting-species-and-ecosystems-at-risk-257660

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Alford Reintroduces American Land and Property Protection Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mark Alford (Missouri 4th District)

    Today, Congressman Mark Alford (MO-04) reintroduced the American Land and Property Protection Act. This commonsense legislation will prevent foreign adversaries from purchasing real estate of any kind in the United States.

    The American Land and Property Protection Act would specifically prohibit nonresident aliens, foreign businesses, an agent, trustee, or fiduciaries associated with China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, as well as designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations, from purchasing land in America.

    “Our foreign adversaries have no business owning American land,” said Congressman Alford. “Unfortunately, we continue to see concerning reports of people associated with China and Russia purchasing U.S. real estate. We need real action to end these transactions once and for all. The American Land and Property is a commonsense step toward protecting the homeland.”

    Read the full text of the legislation here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Defense Ministry Condemns Japan’s Irresponsible Statements on China’s Military Development

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) — Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang on Thursday refuted Japan’s irresponsible statements on China’s military development.

    Zhang Xiaogang made the denial at a press conference when answering a question about Japan’s draft 2025 Defense White Paper.

    The official representative noted that in the draft White Paper on Defense, the Japanese side repeats its irresponsible statements on the development of the Chinese armed forces and tries to give instructions to China on its legitimate military activities and military cooperation with other countries. “We firmly oppose this,” Zhang Xiaogang said.

    This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

    As Zhang Xiaogang emphasized, at this special historical moment, it is even more important for Japan to reflect on its own behavior rather than making baseless accusations and slandering others.

    China calls on Japan to follow the path of peaceful development, act prudently in the military and security spheres, and earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the entire international community through concrete actions, the official spokesperson concluded. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Minister Meets with Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council Chairman

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    HONG KONG, May 29 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met with Chairman of the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council and former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Surakiat Sathienthai, who arrived in Hong Kong to attend the signing ceremony of the Convention Establishing the International Mediation Organization (IMO).

    Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, said China’s initiative to establish the IGO provides the international community with a new option for settling disputes and achieving reconciliation on a voluntary basis. The Chinese Foreign Minister called it a real step toward implementing the principles of multilateralism and adhering to the spirit of the UN Charter.

    China is willing to work with Asian countries to make good use of regional mechanisms including China-ASEAN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Lancang-Mekong cooperation and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue to jointly safeguard the hard-won peace and stability in the region, Wang said.

    Surakiat Sathienthai, for his part, said that he was honored to be invited to Hong Kong to witness the birth of the International Mediation Organization. He emphasized that in the current international situation, the Chinese initiative is very timely.

    Surakiat Sathientai added that the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council looks forward to strengthening cooperation with the Chinese side to make greater contributions to peace and development in Asia. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: CTG 73.6/MDSU 1-6 Conduct ADV Removal in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia, Apr. 21, 2025 [Image 4 of 4]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on

    YAP, Federated States of Micronesia (April 21, 2025) Sailors assigned to Commander, Task Group 73.6/Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1-6 and commercial salvage consultants hoist a piece of the cargo vessel M/V Microspirit toward the Singaporean crane barge SSE Ignatius during a dive and salvage mission in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia, April 21, 2025. CTG 73.6/MDSU 1-6 is currently deployed to Yap with a commercial salvage team to remove Microspirit from Colonia Harbor as part of Pacific Partnership 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval)

    Date Taken: 04.21.2025
    Date Posted: 05.25.2025 07:49
    Photo ID: 9060999
    VIRIN: 250421-N-ED646-9940
    Resolution: 8256×5504
    Size: 8.04 MB
    Location: FM
    Web Views: 8
    Downloads: 2

    PUBLIC DOMAIN  

    This work, CTG 73.6/MDSU 1-6 Conduct ADV Removal in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia, Apr. 21, 2025 [Image 4 of 4], by PO2 Moises Sandoval, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

    GALLERY

    MORE LIKE THIS

    CONTROLLED VOCABULARY KEYWORDS

    TAGS

    MIL Security OSI –