NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia

  • Parliament’s Monsoon Session to begin today amid opposition heat over Operation Sindoor, electoral roll row

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Monsoon Session of Parliament is set to begin on Monday, marking the first sitting since Operation Sindoor, India’s precision airstrikes targeting terror camps in Pakistan in the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address both Houses before proceedings officially commence.

    The session, running from July 21 to August 21, will include 21 sittings over 32 days. Both Houses will be adjourned from August 12 to August 17 for Independence Day celebrations and reconvene on August 18.

    This session is set against a tense political backdrop, with the Opposition demanding answers on several key national issues. Chief among them is Operation Sindoor, launched following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, most of them tourists. The Opposition is pressing for a detailed statement from the Prime Minister and clarity on the operation’s strategic objectives and aftermath. Additionally, it has called on the government to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated claims of mediating peace between India and Pakistan — a claim New Delhi has consistently denied.

    Another issue expected to dominate the debate is the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Opposition parties have raised concerns over the timing and transparency of the exercise, alleging that it is a politically motivated move to influence the upcoming state elections. The government has denied these allegations, stating that the revision is part of routine electoral procedures.

    Despite these contentious matters, the government is prepared to push ahead with an ambitious legislative agenda. Several key bills are slated for introduction, including legislation on GST reforms, amendments to taxation laws, public trust regulation, sports governance, ports and minerals management, and the preservation of geo-heritage sites. A parliamentary panel report on the proposed Income Tax Bill, 2025, is also scheduled to be tabled in the Lok Sabha, signaling a possible overhaul of the country’s tax framework.

    Adding to the already weighty agenda, Parliament is also expected to take up a proposal concerning the removal of a judge, further heightening political sensitivities during the session.

    In a high-level all-party meeting held on Sunday, chaired by Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, 54 leaders from 40 political parties discussed the agenda and key concerns for the session. Rijiju reiterated the government’s commitment to discussing all issues of national importance, including Operation Sindoor, within the rules and conventions of Parliament.

    “We are very open to a discussion on important issues like Operation Sindoor. These are issues of great national importance. The government is not shying away and will never shy away, but is open to discussions within rules and conventions,” said Rijiju.

    (With agencies inputs)

  • Ceasefire Holds in Syria After Deadly Sectarian Clashes

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A tenuous ceasefire has taken hold in Syria’s Suwayda province after a week of sectarian violence between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes, and government forces, which killed over 800 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). Announced by President Ahmed al-Sharaa on July 19, the truce is holding, with security forces deployed to enforce peace and oversee the withdrawal of Bedouin fighters from Suwayda city. The conflict began on July 13, triggered by the abduction of a Druze merchant on the Damascus highway, escalating tensions in the Druze-majority province. Government forces, accused of siding with Bedouin fighters and committing abuses against Druze civilians, intensified the clashes. Israel responded with airstrikes on Syrian military targets, citing protection of the Druze minority.

    A US-brokered ceasefire between Syria and Israel on July 18, followed by al-Sharaa’s comprehensive truce, has shown progress. Druze leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri endorsed the agreement, calling for safe passage for Bedouin fighters and humanitarian aid for civilians. While earlier ceasefires failed, the latest has seen Bedouin fighters leave Suwayda city, with security checkpoints established.

    Skepticism persists among some Druze leaders, wary of the government’s Sunni Islamist leanings. The UN and international actors, including the US and EU, welcomed the ceasefire but urged accountability for reported atrocities, including executions. The violence displaced many, with Suwayda’s hospitals overwhelmed, reporting over 300 casualties since last Monday.

    Israel targeted the Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters and a site near the presidential palace, marking a rare escalation. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned of ‘painful blows’ if Syrian forces did not withdraw from the south President al-Sharaa’s interim government, in power since ousting Bashar al-Assad in 2024, faces challenges in unifying Syria’s diverse groups. The ceasefire’s success depends on enforcing security and addressing sectarian grievances to prevent further unrest.

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Final register of voters released

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The 2025 final register of voters for Election Committee subsectors (ECSSs) was released today.

    The Registration & Electoral Office said the final register contains 3,310 individual voters and 5,567 corporate voters, adding up to a total of 8,877 voters.

    Registered voters in contested subsectors can vote in the 2025 ECSS By-elections on September 7 to elect Election Committee member(s) in their subsectors.

    Registered individual and corporate voters can check their own registration particulars through “iAM Smart” or the voter registration website.

    Relevant statistical information has been uploaded to the voter registration website.

    A notice on the inspection of the final register of voters for ECSSs was published in the Government Gazette today.

    Under the law, a copy of the final register containing entries relating to individual voters can only be shown in accordance with statutory requirements, and made available for inspection by specified persons only.

    A copy of the final register containing only corporate voters may be inspected by any member of the public.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Money Market Operations as on July 18, 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) 7,138.57 5.28 4.50-6.30
         I. Call Money 1,238.40 5.11 4.75-5.40
         II. Triparty Repo 3,345.50 5.22 5.00-5.30
         III. Market Repo 140.12 4.76 4.50-5.00
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 2,414.55 5.47 5.40-6.30
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 15,023.65 5.35 4.75-5.45
         II. Term Money@@ 596.00 – 5.35-5.70
         III. Triparty Repo 3,98,881.50 5.31 5.20-5.43
         IV. Market Repo 1,84,937.94 5.36 5.00-5.60
         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          
         (b) Reverse Repo Fri, 18/07/2025 7 Fri, 25/07/2025 2,00,027.00 5.49
    3. MSF# Fri, 18/07/2025 1 Sat, 19/07/2025 151.00 5.75
      Fri, 18/07/2025 2 Sun, 20/07/2025 0.00 5.75
      Fri, 18/07/2025 3 Mon, 21/07/2025 800.00 5.75
    4. SDFΔ# Fri, 18/07/2025 1 Sat, 19/07/2025 1,13,210.00 5.25
      Fri, 18/07/2025 2 Sun, 20/07/2025 0.00 5.25
      Fri, 18/07/2025 3 Mon, 21/07/2025 3,380.00 5.25
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -3,15,666.00  
    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          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       6,150.48  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     6,150.48  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -3,09,515.52  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks          
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on July 18, 2025 9,91,739.51  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending July 25, 2025 9,63,288.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ July 18, 2025 0.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on June 27, 2025 5,79,904.00  

    @ 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.

    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/744

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Traffic Arrangements On 23 July At Tuas Second Link Due To Singapore-Malaysia Chemical Spill Exercise

    Source: Government of Singapore

    Lane closures and traffic diversion from 5am to 2pm

    Singapore, 21 July 2025 – As part of the bilateral cooperation programme under the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE), the National Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore, and the Department of Environment (DOE), Malaysia, together with several other agencies, will be holding a chemical spill emergency response exercise on Wednesday, 23 July 2025, at the Tuas Second Link from 5.00am to 2.00pm.

    2               During the period of the exercise, all three lanes on the Singapore to Malaysia-bound carriageway on the Tuas Second Link will be closed to vehicular traffic. Motorists travelling towards Malaysia will be diverted to a lane on the opposite carriageway instead. Motorists should plan their journey in advance and closely follow the traffic marshals’ directions on site. Where possible, motorists are advised to avoid the Tuas Second Link when the exercise is ongoing and use the Woodlands Checkpoint during this period. Motorists are also advised to tune in to the Singapore radio stations for traffic updates.

    3               The exercise will simulate the emergency response to a multi-vehicle collision along the Tuas Second Link involving trucks carrying chemicals. The public is advised not to be alarmed.

     

    ~~ End ~~

     

    For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: L’Oréal debuts at China Intl Supply Chain Expo, signs cooperation deal

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

    L’Oréal participated as the only multinational beauty company at the third China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing last week, showcasing supply chain innovations under the theme “Connected with Beauty.”

    Lan Zhenzhen, president of public affairs for L’Oréal North Asia and China, speaks at the opening of the L’Oréal booth during the third China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, July 17, 2025. [Photo courtesy of L’Oréal]

    “A high-quality supply chain resembles a grand symphony that requires collective participation and multi-party collaboration to create perfect harmony,” said Lan Zhenzhen, president of public affairs for L’Oréal North Asia and China, on Thursday.

    Lan said supply chains create “bonds of empathy” and “shared success,” pointing to L’Oréal’s partnerships with more than 1,600 Chinese suppliers that drive employment, advance sustainability and bring Chinese innovations to global markets.

    During the expo, L’Oréal and the China Association for Bar Code Technology and Application announced a strategic partnership to collaborate on cosmetic QR code technology development, talent training and global digital transformation. The cooperation will advance industry-wide QR code standardization and promote China’s technical expertise globally, they said.

    Representatives from L’Oréal and the China Association for Bar Code Technology and Application sign an agreement at the L’Oréal booth during the third China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, July 17, 2025. [Photo courtesy of L’Oréal]

    Kong Hongliang, chairman of the China Association for Bar Code Technology and Application, said the collaboration will focus on improving and globally promoting the cosmetics QR code standard system, establishing a digital system covering the entire industrial chain to enhance supply chain efficiency and accelerating industry visualization to build a “one-code traceability” trust system.

    The partnership represents an upgraded collaboration following the organizations’ 2023 joint development and release of QR code representation standards for cosmetic retail units. Since publication, the standards have been widely adopted by companies implementing digital upgrades, the association said.

    “This partnership not only deepens standard co-development but marks a milestone in global cosmetic supply chain digital transformation,” Kong said.

    The L’Oréal booth at the third China International Supply Chain Expo. [Photo courtesy of L’Oréal]

    At its booth, L’Oréal displayed three sections showcasing its consumer-focused supply chain system, collaborative achievements with partners, and extensions of local partnerships to international markets.

    L’Oréal operates 32 beauty brands in China through two production centers, one operations hub, one research and development center, one packaging facility, and a logistics network spanning more than 20 regional distribution centers serving over 100 million consumers, the company said.

    L’Oréal China said every job it creates generates 20 additional positions across its value chain, including raw material procurement, logistics and beauty services.

    The company’s Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program has engaged more than 2,240 firms, while driving over 95% of its Chinese suppliers to participate in carbon disclosure and sustainability assessments.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mui Wo Swimming Pool reopened

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Attention TV/radio announcers:

    Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

    Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

         The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 21) that Mui Wo Swimming Pool in Island District, which was closed earlier due to urgent clearance work after the typhoon, has been reopened.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Opinion piece: Going further together in times of uncertainty

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    At times of global uncertainty, resilience doesn’t come from retreating inward – it comes from reaching outward.

    That’s the lesson of past economic shocks, and it’s one we must heed again as we confront the fourth major economic disruption in just 2 decades.

    It’s also the principle guiding Australia and Indonesia’s engagement at this week’s G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting in South Africa.

    We’re neighbours by geography, but partners by choice – and by the shared actions we take on the world stage.

    Last year, we marked 75 years of diplomatic ties, 50 years since Australia became ASEAN’s first dialogue partner, and 25 years of cooperation in the G20.

    Since then, we’ve modernised the ASEAN‑Australia‑New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and celebrated 5 years since IA‑CEPA was signed – a partnership that’s already seen our 2‑way trade double to $35 billion.

    To build on this momentum, Indonesia and Australia have agreed to review the IA‑CEPA, so we can generate broader and deeper economic integration.

    This review will also help ensure that the agreement remains relevant and continues to deliver value for our 2 economies.

    This is just one example of how we’re deepening our economic relationship even further.

    Subject to market conditions, Indonesia will also issue its first‑ever AUD‑denominated ‘Kangaroo bond’ in August – a vote of confidence and meaningful step forward, reflecting our deep bilateral ties.

    This will open new pathways for Australian investors to find quality investment products, support Indonesia’s growth and strengthen financial integration.

    It’s a practical example of the ambition that underpins our economic partnership – and the shared belief that resilience is built through cooperation, reform, and openness.

    Together, Australia and Indonesia are helping lead this effort within the G20 – just as we have for a quarter of a century, since the Asian Financial Crisis first brought finance ministers and central bankers around the same table.

    This year, our cooperation is more critical than ever.

    Around the world, growth is softening, inflation has been sticky, and global trade is under pressure from fragmentation and rising geopolitical risk.

    These challenges make our partnership – and our collective work in international forums – even more important.

    Both Australia and Indonesia have shown remarkable resilience.

    In Australia, inflation has moderated in a substantial and sustained way. Unemployment remains close to historic lows, real wages are growing again and we’ve delivered the first back‑to‑back budget surpluses in nearly 2 decades – alongside the biggest nominal budget turnaround in our history.

    Indonesia, too, has performed strongly – recording one of the highest growth rates in the G20, with inflation and unemployment consistently at the lowest rates since 1998, supported by a rapid fiscal consolidation after the pandemic and the creation of more than 3.5 million new jobs in the past year alone.

    This strength gives us momentum – but it doesn’t make us immune.

    We need to stay focused on the long‑term foundations of growth: productivity, fiscal sustainability, and resilience.

    Productivity, in particular, sits at the heart of both our national economic agendas – because it’s what drives better wages, better jobs, and stronger, more inclusive growth.

    For Indonesia, lifting productivity will be vital to reaching high‑income status by 2045. In Australia, it’s central to building a more modern, more adaptable, more inclusive economy.

    That means upskilling our workforces, attracting productive capital, and unlocking innovation – individually and together.

    And we both recognise the importance of fiscal sustainability, having pushed down our debt to GDP ratios to pre pandemic levels.

    Strong, responsible public finances are not just a fiscal shield – they’re a platform for long‑term investment, resilience and reform.

    At this week’s G20, Australia and Indonesia are standing together to supports sustainable, inclusive growth and open, fair and transparent trade in the spirit of multilateralism.

    Because in a world of churn and change, the right response is not retreat – it’s resolve.

    You see that in our collaboration on IA‑CEPA. You see it through Australia’s Southeast Asia economic strategy. You see it in Indonesia’s new Kangaroo bond. And you see it in our shared ambition to build a more integrated and more prosperous Indo‑Pacific.

    We’ve been close partners for decades. But in this moment of global challenge, we’re choosing to go further – and faster – together.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 52 performances to take place at XUAR International Dance Festival

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    URUMQI, July 21 (Xinhua) — The 7th China Xinjiang International Folk Dance Festival opened Sunday in Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The event will feature 52 performances and will run until Aug. 5.

    The event features 24 dance troupes, including groups from eight foreign countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, the United States, Italy and Cambodia – as well as 16 domestic troupes. Performances include dance dramas, operas, ballet and modern dances.

    With Urumqi as the main venue, the festival will also feature performances in regions such as Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Hotan, Aksu, Karamay, Hami and Alaer.

    Associated events include a Silk Road-themed street dance show, performances by local dance troupes, an international dance carnival and a traditional opera week.

    The festival, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region People’s Government, has been held since 2008. The previous six such events have attracted 138 troupes from more than 70 countries and regions, becoming a key platform for cultural exchanges under the Belt and Road Initiative. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Red flags hoisted at Butterfly Beach and Ting Kau Beach

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Attention TV/radio announcers:

    Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

         Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

         The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 21) that according to the Beach Water Quality Forecast System of the Environmental Protection Department (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/water/beach_quality/forecast_system.html), the Beach Water Quality Forecast Index for Butterfly Beach in Tuen Mun District and Ting Kau Beach in Tsuen Wan District is 4, which means the predicted water quality at these beaches is “Very Poor” due to potential transient water quality fluctuations caused by heavy rain. Red flags have been hoisted, and beachgoers are advised not to enter the water to safeguard their health.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for July 21, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 21, 2025.

    What’s the difference between sperm and semen? And can pre-ejaculate get you pregnant?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Theresa Larkin, Associate Professor of Medical Sciences, University of Wollongong priya kunkayan/Getty Semen, sperm, spunk, cum, ejaculate, pre-cum, seminal fluid. These are just some of the many words we use to describe what comes out of an erect penis. Some of these terms can be used interchangeably,

    What happens if I go over or under on my NDIS plan? And what do shorter funding periods mean for me?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helen Dickinson, Professor, Public Service Research, UNSW Sydney The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is undergoing another round of major reforms. One key change relates to the funding periods in which participants are allowed to spend their budgets. While these aim to improve the scheme’s sustainability, they

    Opera Australia gives us a rocking Carmen for the post-#metoo era
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruben Perez-Hidalgo, Lecturer in Spanish Studies, University of Sydney Keith Saunders/Opera Australia The story of Carmen, in the 19th century opera by French composer George Bizet, is, at its simplest, the story of a developing tension between Carmen, a stereotypically racialised woman attempting to break free from

    New study peers beneath the skin of iconic lizards to find ‘chainmail’ bone plates – and lots of them
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roy Ebel, PhD Candidate in Evolutionary Biology, Museums Victoria Research Institute Radiodensity heatmap of emerald tree monitors. Roy Ebel Monitor lizards, also known in Australia as goannas, are some of the most iconic reptiles on the continent. Their lineage not only survived the mass extinction that ended

    Cook Islanders flock from outer islands for 60th anniversary celebrations
    By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist The Cook Islands’ outer islands, or Pa Enua, are emptying as people make the pilgrimage to Rarotonga for constitution celebrations. This year is particularly significant, August 4 marks 60 years of the Cook Islands being in free association with New Zealand. Cook Islands Secretary of Culture Emile Kairua said

    Why has a bill to relax foreign investment rules had so little scrutiny?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Kelsey, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images While public attention has been focused on the domestic fast-track consenting process for infrastructure and mining, Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour has been pushing through another fast-track process – this time for

    Federal election feel like ages ago? Parliament is now back. Here’s your political refresher
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jill Sheppard, Senior Lecturer, School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University Tracey Nearmy/Getty Despite many pre-election predictions, the 48th Australian parliament looks quite similar to the 47th. The Labor Party has greater representation than before: 94 Members of the House of Representatives (up from 77)

    Federal election feel like ages ago? Parliament is now back. Here’s your political refresher
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jill Sheppard, Senior Lecturer, School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University Tracey Nearmy/Getty Despite many pre-election predictions, the 48th Australian parliament looks quite similar to the 47th. The Labor Party has greater representation than before: 94 Members of the House of Representatives (up from 77)

    Is spinal cord stimulation safe? Does it work? Here’s what you need to know if you have back pain
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlin Jones, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney AsiaVision/Getty Spinal cord stimulators are electrical devices that are surgically implanted in the body to treat long-term pain. They have a battery pack and leads that deliver electrical impulses directly to the spinal cord. The devices

    Is spinal cord stimulation safe? Does it work? Here’s what you need to know if you have back pain
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlin Jones, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney AsiaVision/Getty Spinal cord stimulators are electrical devices that are surgically implanted in the body to treat long-term pain. They have a battery pack and leads that deliver electrical impulses directly to the spinal cord. The devices

    Hold up, humans. Ants figured out medicine, farming and engineering long before we did
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tanya Latty, Associate Professor in Entomology, University of Sydney Tambon Nong Chaeng/Pexels Think back to a time you helped someone move a heavy object, such as a couch. While at first the task may have appeared simple, it actually required a suite of advanced behaviours. The job

    Hold up, humans. Ants figured out medicine, farming and engineering long before we did
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tanya Latty, Associate Professor in Entomology, University of Sydney Tambon Nong Chaeng/Pexels Think back to a time you helped someone move a heavy object, such as a couch. While at first the task may have appeared simple, it actually required a suite of advanced behaviours. The job

    Does play belong in primary school? New research suggests teachers are not sure
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katy Meeuwissen, Lecturer in Early Childhood and Primary Education, University of Canberra Jon Challicom/ Getty Images Play is one of the most important parts of early childhood education in Australia. We know children learn about the world through play and it helps them build creativity and independence.

    Does play belong in primary school? New research suggests teachers are not sure
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katy Meeuwissen, Lecturer in Early Childhood and Primary Education, University of Canberra Jon Challicom/ Getty Images Play is one of the most important parts of early childhood education in Australia. We know children learn about the world through play and it helps them build creativity and independence.

    The first video of Earth’s surface lurching sideways in an earthquake offers new insights into this force of nature
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jesse Kearse, Postdoctoral Researcher, Geophysics, Kyoto University Sai Aung MAIN/AFP via Getty Images During the devastating magnitude 7.7 Myanmar earthquake on March 28 this year, a CCTV camera captured the moment the plate boundary moved, providing the first direct visual evidence of plate tectonics in action. Tectonic

    After yet another election, Tasmanians are left wondering what the point of it was
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hortle, Deputy Director, Tasmanian Policy Exchange, University of Tasmania When the results firmed up a few hours after polling closed on Saturday, many Tasmanians would have been wondering, “what was the point of all that?”. A state election only 16 months after the last one looks

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Japan’s ruling coalition certain to lose majority in upper house

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

    Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, also president of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), meets the press at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, July 20, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The coalition led by Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is certain to lose its majority in the House of Councillors following Sunday’s election, public broadcaster NHK reported.

    NHK said that the coalition of the LDP and Komeito is set to fall short of the 125 seats needed for a majority in the 248-seat upper house of parliament.

    The House of Councillors is made up of 248 members with fixed six-year terms. Elections are held every three years, with half the seats up for election each time. In Sunday’s vote, a total of 125 seats, including one to fill a vacancy, were up for grabs.

    Meanwhile, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan is expected to expand its seat count, while the Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito look set to make significant gains, NHK projected.

    Despite the defeat, Shigeru Ishiba has expressed his intention to stay on as Japan’s prime minister, adding that the LDP must fulfill its responsibility as the ruling party.

    Ishiba told NHK that his party has so far secured enough seats to be the leading party in the upper house, and that he has to fulfill the pledges he made during the election campaign, such as wage hikes to counter rising prices.

    The embattled prime minister is expected to hold a press conference on Monday, while all major opposition parties have expressed reluctance to help the ruling bloc by forming an expanded coalition.

    In the October 2024 general election, the ruling coalition already lost its majority in the more powerful House of Representatives, or lower house, forcing Ishiba to form Japan’s first minority government in over three decades.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s railway freight volume reports stable growth in H1

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

    The China-Europe Railway Express (Chengdu-Chongqing) Middle Corridor Ultra-Express Block Train departs from Tuanjiecun Station in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, July 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s railway freight volume reported stable growth in the first half of 2025, with more efficient network operation and improved services, the national railway operator said Sunday.

    The national railway system transported a total of 1.98 billion tonnes of cargo in the period, marking a year-on-year increase of 3 percent, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. The daily average number of loaded freight cars reached 182,400, up 4 percent from the same period last year.

    The company said it made full use of the integrated rail network and pushed forward market-oriented reforms in railway freight transport to boost logistics capacity, efficiency and service quality.

    During the January-June period, coal transport totaled 1.02 billion tonnes, and the freight volume for metallurgical goods and grain rose 8.6 percent and 9.8 percent, respectively.

    International freight also posted stable performance. The Central Asia freight train service operated 7,349 trains, a 25 percent increase from a year ago. The China-Laos Railway transported nearly 3.03 million tonnes of cross-border cargo, up 9 percent.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China cut down to size by Japan’s pacey run-and-gun game

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

    With its sizeable assets neutralized by Japan’s run-and-gun game, the Chinese women’s team has crashed out of its home Asia Cup earlier than expected, with alarm bells ringing for the future.

    A perennial continental power, proud of its talented supply of towering post players, the Chinese women’s basketball program has learned the hard way how the modern game has evolved into a competition of sheer speed, sharpness and an intensity delivered at a much faster pace.

    China’s towering center Zhang Ziyu seen during the third-place playoff against South Korea at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup on Sunday. The defending champion took a bronze with a big 101-66 win, one day after its loss to Japan in the semifinals on Saturday. XINHUA

    The lesson was a harsh one after Team China, as defending champion and a higher-ranked favorite, suffered a 90-81 semifinal loss to Japan on Saturday in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, missing out on the final of the FIBA continental showpiece for the first time in eight years.

    After overpowering the same opponent twice in warm-up games last month, Team China soon realized on Saturday that its size advantage wouldn’t help that much on a night when Japan felt a need for speed — and opened the game firing on all cylinders.

    In an incredible display, Japan’s teen star Kokoro Tanaka set the tone by scoring 21 of her 27 total points in the first quarter alone.

    She caught the host off guard by hitting five 3-pointers in a row, tearing China’s slow-rotating zone defense apart, while silencing the crowd at the Shenzhen Sports Center Gymnasium.

    China, though, came back strongly in the second quarter, relying on its towering combo of 6-foot-10 forward Han Xu and 7-foot-5 center Zhang Ziyu, to take a 51-49 lead into halftime.

    However, Japan’s sharp-shooting trio of Yuki Miyazawa, Norika Konno and Stephanie Mawuli all stepped up following the interval, connecting with a barrage of deep 3s and fast counterattacks to rebuild Japan’s early advantage.

    Captain Maki Takada then plunged the dagger in further, hitting one from near the rim with 32.3 seconds left to settle the eventual scoreline and help avenge Japan’s narrow 73-71 defeat to China in the 2023 Asia Cup final in Sydney.

    Leading China on a heartbreaking night for the national side was forward Yang Shuyu, who finished with 19 points.

    Former WNBA star Han contributed 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while teen prodigy Zhang, who is making her senior international debut in Shenzhen, finished with 17 points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes, the longest she’s played across four games.

    China’s head coach Gong Luming hailed his players’ efforts in trying to put up a fight, but admitted his team has a lot of catching-up to do.

    “We learned a tough lesson from today’s loss. We have to figure out how to adapt our game, particularly with our twin towers on court, to the fast-paced, sharp-shooting modern game,” Gong said at the post-match news conference.

    “We didn’t manage to guard them well enough on the perimeter, failing to contain their 3-pointers as well as we planned.

    “We are still in a building process, though. We are not going to make any radical changes in our plans for the future, or give up on our strength altogether. We will learn, adapt and improve to achieve the ultimate goal at the 2028 Olympic Games.”

    Citing the fast-evolving international game, Han suggests more young talent should seek opportunities to ply their trade overseas, despite lower average salaries, even in the WNBA, compared to China’s domestic league.

    “The world has moved far ahead of us, with the game changing in how it is supposed to be played and how to win,” said Han, who played with WNBA’s New York Liberty for two separate seasons in 2019 and 2021.

    “We saw that after a disappointing Olympic campaign last year in Paris, and today was another painful reminder.

    “I will try to make my way back into an overseas league to keep honing my individual game next season, and I hope more will follow me in order to improve in a more competitive environment.”

    Japan’s head coach Corey Gaines attributed the successful revenge mission to his players’ perfect execution of a tailored game plan against the host.

    “That was a game where the players followed the game plan,” Gaines said. We had a strategy going into the game, and they executed it. China countered, we changed to another game plan.”

    “And they really kept their heads during the game, and they executed what we talked about. That win is for the players,” continued Gaines. “The players won that game. They really did their job.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China expo highlights global supply chain resilience amid tariff turbulence

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

    As tariff tensions and geopolitical uncertainties continue to rattle the global economy, the 2025 China International Supply Chain Expo is emerging as a promising platform to foster resilient, diversified and cooperative global supply chains.

    Running from Wednesday to Sunday in Beijing, the third edition of the supply chain-themed expo has drawn more than 600 exhibitors, notably those of carmakers, logistics providers and pharmaceutical firms, spanning 75 countries and regions.

    Against the backdrop of mounting trade protectionism and rising global fragmentation, the event showcases China’s bid to champion openness, innovation and international cooperation in the face of growing headwinds.

    PLATFORM FOR COOPERATION

    The event comes at a time of heightened trade friction and mounting uncertainty, which is expected to weigh heavily on global economic activity. In its April forecast, the International Monetary Fund projected global growth to slow to 2.8 percent in 2025 and 3 percent in 2026, down from 3.3 percent for both years in its January outlook.

    “Geopolitical tensions have disrupted supply chains, harming not only others but also one’s own interests,” said Xu Jiabin, an economics professor at Renmin University of China. “That’s why we must adopt an inclusive mindset and work together to improve the global supply chain’s connectivity and coordination. This is the path to mutual benefit.”

    People visit the Green Agriculture Chain area of the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, July 19, 2025. The 2025 CISCE, scheduled from July 16 to 20, opened to general public on Saturday. (Xinhua/Chang Nengjia)

    As the world’s first national-level platform focused on supply chains, the expo helps connect Chinese and international firms, promote technical alignment and support deeper economic cooperation, Zhou Xing, head of public affairs at PwC China, told Xinhua.

    “The expo offers a high-efficiency matchmaking platform,” she said. “It enables companies to align on technology, standards and markets, helping drive global collaboration.”

    For Chinese firms, the expo offers a window to expand their international footprint and connect directly with global supply chain nodes. For multinational firms, it provides an opportunity to gain access to China’s vast market, comprehensive industrial ecosystem and strong policy support.

    SIG Group, a Singapore-based accounting and tax firm, is participating in the expo for the second time. As a company dedicated to supporting Chinese enterprises in expanding into ASEAN markets, it engaged in in-depth exchanges with a wide range of partners at the event.

    Edward Liu, a senior director at SIG Group said the event offers a valuable opportunity to enhance the firm’s ability to serve its clients in the future.

    CHINA’S COMMITMENT

    China has consistently championed open, cooperative international trade as an anchor of stability, especially during times of worldwide economic volatility and geopolitical turbulence.

    In a congratulatory letter sent to the 20th Western China International Fair in May, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China is willing to take the fair as an opportunity to further enhance mutual understanding, strengthen friendship, and deepen cooperation with friends from all countries.

    China will uphold the multilateral trading system and ensure the stable and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains together with the world, injecting new impetus into the prosperity and development of the world economy, Xi noted.

    During a March meeting in Beijing with more than 40 global CEOs and business leaders, Xi said, “China has been and will remain an ideal, secure, and promising destination for foreign investors.”

    “Embracing China is embracing opportunities, believing in China is believing in a better tomorrow, and investing in China is investing in the future,” he said.

    The Chinese president called on foreign firms to safeguard the multilateral trading system, maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains, protect the international environment for openness and cooperation, and advance economic globalization in the right direction.

    A visitor tries a smart product equipped with Snapdragon processor at the Qualcomm booth in the Digital Technology Chain area of the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, July 19, 2025. The 2025 CISCE, scheduled from July 16 to 20, opened to general public on Saturday. (Xinhua/Chang Nengjia)

    CONFIDENCE IN CHINA

    China’s economy beat expectations with robust 5.3 percent GDP growth in the first half of 2025 and is actively taking steps to maintain stability and sustain growth momentum in the months ahead. Such economic resilience has strengthened public and investor confidence in the country’s long-term economic prospects, particularly its appeal as a strategic hub for multinational firms looking to restructure and diversify their supply chains.

    “China is no longer just a manufacturing base, but an innovation hub,” said Zhou. “By integrating digital tools and investing in strategic sectors like EVs, renewables and biotech, China is strengthening its position in global value chains.”

    This strategic pivot is already being recognized by global companies. “China has the world’s most complete EV supply chain, with top-tier local suppliers and highly responsive manufacturing capabilities,” a Tesla spokesperson told Xinhua.

    Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang shared a similar view on Thursday, describing China’s supply chain as a “miracle” and highlighting the country’s deep capabilities in artificial intelligence and computer science.

    As China continues to pursue high-quality opening-up, foreign firms are also gaining expanded access and greater policy support. “Foreign companies are expected to benefit from greater market access, a more level playing field and broader opportunities for cooperation,” said Poh-Yian Koh, president of FedEx China.

    FedEx applauds the Chinese government’s ongoing efforts to optimize the business environment, and pledges to continue to strengthen its logistics network and digital capabilities to enhance connectivity between Chinese and global markets, she added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: AIXA Miner Updates DOGE Cloud Mining Contract with $7 Bonus for New Participants Starting This Week

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Denver, Colorado, July 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AIXA Miner today announced a revised cloud mining contract for Dogecoin (DOGE), introducing a limited-time $7 bonus for new participants. The update is part of the company’s ongoing strategy to enhance accessibility and responsiveness in its mining offerings as global interest in diversified crypto assets continues to grow.

    The revised DOGE contract becomes available this week and is designed to lower the barrier to entry for users exploring crypto mining as a passive income solution. In addition to the bonus, the updated plan features short-term durations, real-time performance tracking, and smart contract-based automation for daily rewards.

    The changes come as part of AIXA Miner’s broader initiative to recalibrate mining products for both emerging and experienced users, without compromising operational sustainability or security. Dogecoin was selected as a strategic focus due to its lightweight network demands and increasing relevance within everyday transactions and social crypto communities.

    “Our goal is to continue evolving with the needs of our global user base,” said a spokesperson from AIXA Miner’s Product Development Team. “The DOGE contract refresh provides a faster, more accessible entry point for users looking to engage with cloud mining, while still benefiting from reliable earnings and energy-efficient performance.”

    With demand for cloud mining platforms increasing alongside renewed optimism in the crypto sector, AIXA Miner is prioritizing offerings that can scale without placing undue strain on hardware infrastructure or the environment. The DOGE contract operates on a leaner proof-of-work network, making it especially suitable for deployment in renewable-powered facilities across North America, Southeast Asia, and South America.

    This alignment with green blockchain principles is a cornerstone of AIXA Miner’s infrastructure roadmap. The company continues to invest in operations backed by clean energy crypto sources, such as hydroelectric and solar, with the aim of improving energy return ratios and lowering emissions per kilowatt hour mined.

    In this update, the DOGE plan remains consistent with the company’s standards for transparency and performance: users will benefit from automated reward calculations, 24-hour payout intervals, and complete visibility into contract terms via the AIXA Miner dashboard. The new $7 bonus will be applied at the time of contract initiation and credited directly within the mining wallet interface.

    As a high profit platform, AIXA Miner maintains a flexible range of contracts tailored to different user profiles—from short-term miners testing market conditions to long-term participants seeking consistent digital asset accumulation. The DOGE contract, in particular, is engineered to respond to real-time network factors such as transaction volume, hash rate demand, and block rewards.

    With growing awareness around environmental impact and blockchain sustainability, AIXA Miner also emphasizes the role of efficient token networks in creating a more sustainable mining ecosystem. The updated DOGE plan reflects that focus by balancing accessibility with low energy consumption and adaptive smart contract frameworks.

    The company anticipates increased traction for this revised plan, particularly in regions with expanding digital currency adoption and limited access to high-end hardware. By pairing an approachable token like DOGE with short-term, bonus-backed contracts, AIXA Miner continues to position itself as a flexible solution in the evolving crypto infrastructure landscape.

    The updated DOGE Mining plan with bonus availability will roll out globally this week. New users can access the offer directly through AIXA Miner’s platform and begin mining within minutes—no hardware or technical configuration required.

    Media Contact:
    PR Division
    info@aixaminer.com
    https://aixaminer.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: AIXA Miner Updates DOGE Cloud Mining Contract with $7 Bonus for New Participants Starting This Week

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Denver, Colorado, July 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AIXA Miner today announced a revised cloud mining contract for Dogecoin (DOGE), introducing a limited-time $7 bonus for new participants. The update is part of the company’s ongoing strategy to enhance accessibility and responsiveness in its mining offerings as global interest in diversified crypto assets continues to grow.

    The revised DOGE contract becomes available this week and is designed to lower the barrier to entry for users exploring crypto mining as a passive income solution. In addition to the bonus, the updated plan features short-term durations, real-time performance tracking, and smart contract-based automation for daily rewards.

    The changes come as part of AIXA Miner’s broader initiative to recalibrate mining products for both emerging and experienced users, without compromising operational sustainability or security. Dogecoin was selected as a strategic focus due to its lightweight network demands and increasing relevance within everyday transactions and social crypto communities.

    “Our goal is to continue evolving with the needs of our global user base,” said a spokesperson from AIXA Miner’s Product Development Team. “The DOGE contract refresh provides a faster, more accessible entry point for users looking to engage with cloud mining, while still benefiting from reliable earnings and energy-efficient performance.”

    With demand for cloud mining platforms increasing alongside renewed optimism in the crypto sector, AIXA Miner is prioritizing offerings that can scale without placing undue strain on hardware infrastructure or the environment. The DOGE contract operates on a leaner proof-of-work network, making it especially suitable for deployment in renewable-powered facilities across North America, Southeast Asia, and South America.

    This alignment with green blockchain principles is a cornerstone of AIXA Miner’s infrastructure roadmap. The company continues to invest in operations backed by clean energy crypto sources, such as hydroelectric and solar, with the aim of improving energy return ratios and lowering emissions per kilowatt hour mined.

    In this update, the DOGE plan remains consistent with the company’s standards for transparency and performance: users will benefit from automated reward calculations, 24-hour payout intervals, and complete visibility into contract terms via the AIXA Miner dashboard. The new $7 bonus will be applied at the time of contract initiation and credited directly within the mining wallet interface.

    As a high profit platform, AIXA Miner maintains a flexible range of contracts tailored to different user profiles—from short-term miners testing market conditions to long-term participants seeking consistent digital asset accumulation. The DOGE contract, in particular, is engineered to respond to real-time network factors such as transaction volume, hash rate demand, and block rewards.

    With growing awareness around environmental impact and blockchain sustainability, AIXA Miner also emphasizes the role of efficient token networks in creating a more sustainable mining ecosystem. The updated DOGE plan reflects that focus by balancing accessibility with low energy consumption and adaptive smart contract frameworks.

    The company anticipates increased traction for this revised plan, particularly in regions with expanding digital currency adoption and limited access to high-end hardware. By pairing an approachable token like DOGE with short-term, bonus-backed contracts, AIXA Miner continues to position itself as a flexible solution in the evolving crypto infrastructure landscape.

    The updated DOGE Mining plan with bonus availability will roll out globally this week. New users can access the offer directly through AIXA Miner’s platform and begin mining within minutes—no hardware or technical configuration required.

    Media Contact:
    PR Division
    info@aixaminer.com
    https://aixaminer.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Mint Miner cloud mining fully upgrades new asset appreciation methods: free APP + stablecoin automatic income distribution

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, NY, July 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In the context of global digital assets moving towards mainstream and institutionalization, Mint Miner is reshaping the definition of cloud mining with a revolutionary product structure and technology stack. Its newly upgraded smart mining platform integrates free application entry, stablecoin automatic income system, flexible contract mechanism and global incentive matrix to build a more transparent, smarter and global user-friendly asset appreciation solution.

    Free threshold, open a path for the steady growth of digital assets

    Different from the high threshold and heavy configuration of traditional mining platforms, Mint Miner launched a full-featured free App that allows users to “mine on the chain” with zero hardware and zero technical threshold. The application has a built-in multi-currency asset management module, supporting mainstream crypto assets such as BTC, ETH, XRP, USDT, USDC, etc. Users can choose different mining contracts on demand, and daily income will be automatically issued through the on-chain stablecoin smart contract, without manual operation and waiting for confirmation cycle, realizing true “passive income automation”.

    Join Mint Miner to experience the stablecoin automatic income system

    In order to further improve transparency and user experience, Mint Miner fully connects to the on-chain stablecoin income settlement system. All mining returns are priced in real time in US dollar stablecoins and automatically collected to the user’s wallet to ensure that the income is not affected by the price fluctuations of the crypto market, achieving low risk and stable returns. Register now to get an exclusive novice reward-a cloud mining computing power worth $15, and you can log in every day to receive a $0.6 stable income benefit, without investing money, and start daily income immediately.

    Flexible contract matrix + continuous reward mechanism to release the financial value of computing power

    Mint Miner introduces the “cloud computing power assetization” model in the new version: users can not only freely choose flexible contracts with different terms, currencies, and yields.

    It can also continuously accumulate its own “computing power net value” through invitation mechanisms, renewal rewards and periodic computing power increase plans, which essentially builds an upgradeable and recyclable cloud mining ecological asset.

    Safe, green and compliant: building a digital income portal trusted by global users

    In the context of increasingly stringent global supervision, Mint Miner took the lead in completing multi-country compliance filings and established local nodes in countries such as the United Kingdom, Estonia, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore, working closely with local governments to ensure that the platform has cross-border legitimacy in data processing, tax declaration, and anti-money laundering.

    At the same time, the green mines deployed by Mint Miner are mainly hydropower, wind power, and geothermal energy, with a carbon footprint close to zero, which meets the requirements of the United Nations’ “2030 Sustainable Development Goals” and also meets the new standards for ESG investment by large institutions.

    Conclusion:

    Mint Miner is breaking down the barriers between retail investors and the long-term appreciation of digital assets with its core architecture of “free entry + stable income + contract incentives + green compliance”, and promoting the transformation of cloud mining from a speculative tool to a truly inclusive financial infrastructure**.

    Download the Mint Miner app for free now, receive an exclusive mining contract, and start a new era of wealth growth in the stablecoin era with global users.
    Official website: https://mintminer.com
    Email:info@mintminer.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – CommBank Next Chapter Innovation partners help to address financial abuse in First Nations communities

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

    CommBank releases its FY26-28 Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) .

    CommBank has announced its 2025 Next Chapter Innovation partners, maintaining the program’s focus on supporting innovative, community-led programs that address financial abuse in First Nations communities.  

    This announcement coincides with the release of CommBank’s FY26-28 Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and reflects its ambition to be a trusted partner to First Nations peoples as they achieve their social, cultural and economic aspirations.

    Over the next 18 months two First Nations-led organisations, Mudgin-gal Aboriginal Corporation(NSW) and Mookai Rosie-Bi-Bayan (QLD) will each receive access to grants of up to $200,000 plus tailored non-financial assistance, including, executive mentoring, and capability-building support from across CommBank.

    Supporting solutions designed by the community, for the community

    Now in its third year, CommBank’s Next Chapter Innovation program is part of the bank’s broader commitment to help address domestic and family violence (DFC) and financial abuse, to support victim-survivors on their path to long-term financial independence.  

    Recent research by the Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network (ICAN) highlights that financial abuse can affect First Nations peoples in unique ways. The ICAN report explores how financial control within relationships and the exploitation of cultural obligations can create financial stress. It also emphasises the importance of culturally safe, community-led solutions to overcome barriers to seeking support.

    The Next Chapter Innovation program is investing in First Nations-led place-based initiatives that provide culturally informed, practical responses to financial abuse – creating safer pathways to financial security.

    Introducing CommBank’s 2025 Next Chapter Innovation partners

    This year’s partners were nominated by members of CommBank’s First Nations Employee Network and have been selected for their innovative, community-based approaches to supporting recovery in First Nations communities.

    Mudgin-gal Aboriginal Corporation (NSW) – Mudgin-gal – meaning “Women’s Place”, has stood at the heart of Redfern as a sanctuary for Aboriginal women and families. Entirely led by Aboriginal women, the organisation has become a beacon of community strength, cultural healing, and early intervention in the fight against family violence. Mudgin-gal Aboriginal Corporation will deliver Sacred Circles – trauma-informed, healing-led sessions that blend cultural practice with practical financial education, supporting women’s recovery and financial empowerment.  
    Mookai Rosie-Bi-Bayan (QLD) – With more than 35 years of experience providing healthcare and accommodation services to women and children of Queensland’s Cape York, NPA, and Torres Strait regions, Mookai Rosie-Bi-Bayan is continuing the legacy of their Aunties by establishing the ‘Building Futures, Building Communities’ program. The initiative will create a social enterprise that supports victim-survivor recovery and generates income by harnessing traditional knowledge of plants, to make medicinal healing products, empowering women with both cultural and economic strength.

    CommBank will also continue to work with its 2024 Next Chapter Innovation partners, Strong Women Talking and the Council of Aboriginal Services Western Australia (CASWA).

    Mitchell Heritage, CommBank Executive Manager looking after First Nations business banking and a member of CommBank’s Indigenous Leadership Team said: “CommBank’s Next Chapter Innovation program was established to help break the cycle of financial abuse and empower people to rebuild long-term financial independence. This year, we are pleased to support First Nations communities through the program by investing in innovative, culturally informed programs. We are proud to back community-led organisations that are delivering real change on the ground.”

    For further details on CommBank’s Next Chapter support, visit: commbank.com.au/nextchapter

    CommBank launches FY26-28 Elevate RAP

    This announcement aligns with the delivery of the Bank’s eighth Reconciliation Action Plan. Through the FY26-28 RAP, CommBank has reaffirmed its commitment to deliver 12 reconciliation priorities that will strengthen the Bank’s engagement with First Nations people across four key areas – reconciliation and community, education and careers, business success and growth, and financial inclusion.

    In endorsing the Bank’s latest RAP, Karen Mundine, CEO of Reconciliation Australia said: “Commonwealth Bank’s FY26-28 Elevate RAP sets out their priorities in further strengthening their engagement with First Nations peoples. It builds on the Bank’s previous reconciliation commitments; through listening to the voices and expertise of First Nations people and using that knowledge to continually expand their strategies, the Bank demonstrates a sustainable approach to their reconciliation program, now and into the future.”

     For further details on CommBank’s FY26-28 Elevate RAP, including the Bank’s FY26-28 RAP priorities, visit: commbank.com.au/reconciliation.

    Anyone worried about their finances because of domestic or family violence or coercive control can contact the Next Chapter Team on 1800 222 387 for support – no matter who they bank with. 

    If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au or 13 YARN (13 92 76 or www.13yarn.org.au).

    In an emergency or if you’re not feeling safe, always call 000.

    Further information: demonstrated impact of the Next Chapter Innovation program through independent evaluation

    An independent evaluation of CommBank’s Next Chapter Innovation program conducted by UNSW found that the first cohort of partners delivered significant outcomes, with broad reach across communities and the sector.  

    Key program results:  

    Engagement with nearly 600 clients and service users.
    Collaboration with more than 150 stakeholders through workshops and consultations.
    The development of two new practice models and guidelines to strengthen responses to financial abuse.

    Unique achievements of the individual partners include:

    • Afghan Women on the Move worked with 500 Afghan and multicultural women to build financial skills, improve digital literacy, recognise financial abuse and explore employment and small business opportunities  
    • YFS Ltd enhanced sector-wide knowledge of technology facilitated abuse, engaging 90 victims-survivors and 133 sector workers to improve safety, wellbeing and response capability. 
    • EACH engaged 35 national stakeholders to co-design a service model addressing financial abuse in small business, intended for future implementation through a National Centre for Financial Abuse in Small Business. 
    • Indian (Sub-Cont) Crisis Support Agency developed a framework for communities and practitioners to better identify and respond to dowry abuse in South Asian communities.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: How the world’s nuclear watchdog monitors facilities around the world – and what it means that Iran kicked it out

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Anna Erickson, Professor of Nuclear and Radiological Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

    This travel case holds a toolkit containing equipment for inspecting nuclear facilities. Dean Calma/IAEA, CC BY

    What happens when a country seeks to develop a peaceful nuclear energy program? Every peaceful program starts with a promise not to build a nuclear weapon. Then, the global community verifies that stated intent via the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

    Once a country signs the treaty, the world’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, provides continuous and technical proof that the country’s nuclear program is peaceful.

    The IAEA ensures that countries operate their programs within the limits of nonproliferation agreements: low enrichment and no reactor misuse. Part of the agreement allows the IAEA to inspect nuclear-related sites, including unannounced surprise visits.

    These are not just log reviews. Inspectors know what should and should not be there. When the IAEA is not on site, cameras, tamper-revealing seals on equipment and real-time radiation monitors are working full-time to gather or verify inside information about the program’s activities.

    Safeguards toolkit

    The IAEA safeguards toolkit is designed to detect proliferation activities early. Much of the work is fairly technical. The safeguards toolkit combines physical surveillance, material tracking, data analytics and scientific sampling. Inspectors are chemists, physicists and nuclear engineers. They count spent fuel rods in a cooling pond. They check tamper seals on centrifuges. Often, the inspectors walk miles through hallways and corridors carrying heavy equipment.

    That’s how the world learned in April 2021 about Iran pushing uranium enrichment from reactor-fuel-grade to near-weapons-grade levels. IAEA inspectors were able to verify that Iran was feeding uranium into a series of centrifuges designed to enrich the uranium from 5%, used for energy programs, to 60%, which is a step toward the 90% level used in nuclear weapons.

    Around the facilities, whether for uranium enrichment or plutonium processing, closed-circuit surveillance cameras monitor for undeclared materials or post-work activities. Seals around the facilities provide evidence that uranium gas cylinders have not been tampered with or that centrifuges operate at the declared levels. Beyond seals, online enrichment monitors allow inspectors to look inside of centrifuges for any changes in the declared enrichment process.

    Seals verify whether nuclear equipment or materials have been used between onsite inspections.

    When the inspectors are on-site, they collect environmental swipes: samples of nuclear materials on surfaces, in dust or in the air. These can reveal if uranium has been enriched to levels beyond those allowed by the agreement. Or if plutonium, which is not used in nuclear power plants, is being produced in a reactor. Swipes are precise. They can identify enrichment levels from a particle smaller than a speck of dust. But they take time, days or weeks. Inspectors analyze the samples at the IAEA’s laboratories using sophisticated equipment called mass spectrometers.

    In addition to physical samples, IAEA inspectors look at the logs of material inventories. They look for diversion of uranium or plutonium from normal process lines, just like accountants trace the flow of finances, except that their verification is supported by the ever-watching online monitors and radiation sensors. They also count items of interest and weigh them for additional verification of the logs.

    Beyond accounting for materials, IAEA inspectors verify that the facility matches the declared design. For example, if a country is expanding centrifuge halls to increase its enrichment capabilities, that’s a red flag. Changes to the layout of material processing laboratories near nuclear reactors could be a sign that the program is preparing to produce unauthorized plutonium.

    Losing access

    Iran announced on June 28, 2025, that it has ended its cooperation with the IAEA. It removed the monitoring devices, including surveillance cameras, from centrifuge halls. This move followed the news by the IAEA that Iran’s enrichment activities are well outside of allowed levels. Iran now operates sophisticated uranium centrifuges, like models IR-6 and IR-9.

    Removing IAEA access means that the international community loses insight into how quickly Iran’s program can accumulate weapon-grade uranium, or how much it has produced. Also lost is information about whether the facility is undergoing changes for proliferation purposes. These processes are difficult to detect with external surveillance, like satellites, alone.

    A satellite view of Iran’s Arak Nuclear Complex, which has a reactor capable of producing plutonium.
    Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies via Getty Images

    An alternative to the uranium enrichment path for producing nuclear weapons material is plutonium. Plutonium can’t be mined, it has to be produced in a nuclear reactor. Iran built a reactor capable of producing plutonium, the IR-40 Heavy Water Research Reactor at the Arak Nuclear Complex.

    Iran modified the Arak reactor under the now-defunct Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to make plutonium production less likely. During the June 2025 missile attacks, Israel targeted Arak’s facilities with the aim of eliminating the possibility of plutonium production.

    With IAEA access suspended, it won’t be possible to see what happens inside the facility. Can the reactor be used for plutonium production? Although a lengthier process than the uranium enrichment path, plutonium provides a parallel path to uranium enrichment for developing nuclear weapons.

    Continuity of knowledge

    North Korea expelled IAEA inspectors in 2009. Within a few years, they restarted activities related to uranium enrichment and plutonium production in the Yongbyon reactor. The international community’s information about North Korea’s weapons program now relies solely on external methods: satellite images, radioactive particles like xenon – airborne fingerprints of nuclear activities – and seismic data.

    What is lost is the continuity of the knowledge, a chain of verification over time. Once the seals are broken or cameras are removed, that chain is lost, and so is confidence about what is happening at the facilities.

    When it comes to IAEA inspections, there is no single tool that paints the whole picture. Surveillance plus sampling plus accounting provide validation and confidence. Losing even one weakens the system in the long term.

    The existing safeguards regime is meant to detect violations. The countries that sign the nonproliferation treaty know that they are always watched, and that plays a deterrence role. The inspectors can’t just resume the verification activities after some time if access is lost. Future access won’t necessarily enable inspectors to clarify what happened during the gap.

    Anna Erickson receives funding from DOE National Nuclear Security Administration.

    – ref. How the world’s nuclear watchdog monitors facilities around the world – and what it means that Iran kicked it out – https://theconversation.com/how-the-worlds-nuclear-watchdog-monitors-facilities-around-the-world-and-what-it-means-that-iran-kicked-it-out-260689

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Shi, An triumph at badminton Japan Open

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

    China’s Shi Yuqi claimed the men’s singles title at badminton’s Japan Open on Sunday, while Olympic champion An Se-young of South Korea secured the women’s crown in a dominant display.

    Facing defending champion Alex Lanier of France, Shi seized control when tied 17-17 in the first game, reeling off four straight points to claim it before clinching the second 21-15 for the victory.

    An Se-young of South Korea competes in the final. [photo:xinhua]

    An Se-young continued her remarkable season, overpowering China’s Wang Zhiyi in just 42 minutes. The Olympic champion triumphed 21-12, 21-10, capturing her sixth title from seven BWF World Tour tournaments entered this year.

    China emerged as the most successful team overall. Alongside Shi’s gold and Wang’s silver, they secured victories in two doubles events.

    Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning successfully defended their women’s doubles title, defeating Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan 21-15, 21-14. In the mixed doubles, Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin overcame Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran in a 62-minute thriller, winning 21-19, 16-21, 21-15.

    The men’s doubles title went to South Korea’s Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae, who defeated Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin 21-16, 21-17.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China rout S. Korea for third-place finish at Women’s Asia Cup

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

    China wrapped up its 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup campaign in dominant fashion, routing South Korea 101-66 in the third-place game on Sunday.

    Determined to finish on a high note after a semifinal loss to Japan, China came out firing from long range and pushed fast in transition. Luo Xinyu and Yang Shuyu each hit early 3-pointers as the host raced into a 13-2 lead.

    China continued to experiment with various lineups, alternating between a small-ball unit without a center and a twin-tower setup featuring Han Xu and Zhang Ziyu. The adjustments paid off, as China built a 17-point lead by the end of the first quarter.

    Han Xu (R) of China competes during the 3rd place match between China and South Korea at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, July 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

    In the second quarter, guard Wang Siyu took over offensively, repeatedly slicing through South Korea’s defense for layups and drawing fouls. Under China’s high-pressure defense, South Korea struggled to score, relying heavily on mid-range jumpers and drives by Kang Yoo-lim. At halftime, China built a comfortable 58-29 lead.

    After the break, South Korea brought in veteran center Park Ji-su. While her presence helped stabilize South Korea’s offense, it was the 226cm-tall Zhang dominated the paint on both ends, and China extended its lead to 42 points, turning the final period into garbage time.

    Wang led all scorers with 19 points, while Zhang contributed 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists, and Luo added 15 points for China.

    For South Korea, Park Ji-su finished with a team-high 14 points and eight rebounds, and Choi I-saem added 10.

    China’s veteran forward Huang Sijing, who was seen in tears during the national anthem before tip-off, had some emotional moments after the game.

    “This might be my last time wearing the national team jersey,” said Huang. “Looking back on my 10 years representing China, there have been both joys and regrets, but as I reach the twilight of my career, what I feel most is pride.”

    Although she expressed disappointment with the team’s result at the Asia Cup, Huang acknowledged the broader context. “The team is undergoing a generational transition, and we’re also adapting to a new coaching philosophy. Given we’ve only had three months to work together, I think we’ve already made good progress.”

    At the post-game press conference, China head coach Gong Luming described the Asia Cup as a “quiz” within the broader preparation cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He also noted that he had picked up some tactical ideas from Japan, Australia and South Korea during the tournament – insights he said would be valuable for the development of China’s younger players.

    Discussing Zhang Ziyu’s debut with the senior national team, Gong noted that there is still much room for improvement. “She needs to get stronger in physical battles inside the paint,” he said. Gong added that he hoped Zhang would expand her range on the court and develop into a more versatile player who can also facilitate and pass the ball effectively.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global athletics talents descend on Bochum for University Games

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

    A star-studded athletics roster offers a taste of the Olympics, with Olympians and defending champions set to compete from July 21 to 27 at the FISU World University Games.

    The throwers’ showdown between Cierra Jackson of the United States and Antonia Kinzel of Germany in the women’s discus on July 24 will be a highlight on the field in the Lohrheidestadion in Bochum.

    Jackson, 22, set a championship record of 65.82 meters on her way to grabbing the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship title this summer. That prompted the former Fresno State student to turn professional and then, in her first outing as a full-time athlete, Jackson improved her personal best to 67.82m, just 1.68m short of her compatriot Valarie Allman’s gold-winning distance of 69.50m at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

    Defending champion Kinzel, who set her own PB of 62.64m in May, can be counted as a potential challenger to Jackson while competing on home soil.

    “It’s a special feeling to compete in this internationally renowned event in your own country,” Kinzel said.

    “I want to build on my experiences from two years ago in Chengdu, defend my title in the discus throw, and I am really looking forward to the special atmosphere of the FISU Games, giving a little taste of the Olympics.”

    Bayanda Walaza of South Africa is a notable name on the track. He claimed silver in the men’s 4x100m relay at Paris 2024. Aged just 18, and originally a reserve, Walaza ran the leadoff leg in the final, as South Africa won its first ever medal in the event.

    Walaza, who also won the individual sprint double at the U20 World Championships last year, has kicked on this year too. After becoming just the ninth South African to clock under 10 seconds for the 100m, he improved his PB to 9.94 seconds in Zagreb in May. Weeks earlier, Walaza set a South African junior record of 20.08s in the 200m.

    Both PBs meet the qualification criteria for the senior World Athletics Championships, taking place in Tokyo in September.

    Walaza, along with teammate Lythe Pillay, will be looking to secure a 100m-200m-400m clean sweep. Pillay is the 2022 400m U20 world champion and a reigning World Athletics Relays 4x400m gold medalist.

    Fellow South African sprinter Marlie Viljoen is back as the defending champion after she set a PB of 51.42s in the 400m in March.

    Laura Pellicoro (front) of Italy crosses the finish line during the athletics women’s 1500m final at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Aug. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

    The other returning champion is Laura Pellicoro of Italy. Now 24, she won the middle-distance double two years ago and is part of a stellar Italian lineup.

    Dalia Kaddari (Italy) is expected to add something to her long list of achievements which already includes being a two-time Olympian (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024), European Championship bronze medal in 2022 (4x100m relay), European U23 champion in 2021 (200m) and Youth Olympic Games silver medal in 2018 (200m).

    Edoardo Scotti has been at the center of an impressive 12 months for Italian athletics. He helped his nation finish sixth in the 4x400m mixed relay and seventh in the men’s 4x400m relay at Paris 2024. Then he inspired the team to double silver in the 4x400m mixed and 4x400m men’s relays at the 2024 European Championships in Rome.

    China’s Shu Heng, who is the Asian men’s long jump champion, will try to improve on his PB of 8.22m achieved in May at the Asian Athletics Championships.

    India’s Pooja Singh, at just 1.70 meters tall, will compete as the newly crowned women’s Asian high jump champion. Singh grew up in rural India, with her father taking out loans to fund an athletics journey that began with bamboo poles as crossbars and landing mats fashioned from rice husk and hay.

    Bridget Mbwali from Uganda, a double sprint gold medal winner at last year’s East African University Games, is another decorated runner from Africa. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mui Wo Temporary Public Fill Reception Facility reopened

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Mui Wo Temporary Public Fill Reception Facility reopened 
    Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
     
         As the Hong Kong Observatory has cancelled all typhoon warning signals, the Civil Engineering and Development Department today (July 21) announced that the Mui Wo Temporary Public Fill Reception Facility has been reopened at 9am for public use.
    Issued at HKT 9:08

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Is spinal cord stimulation safe? Does it work? Here’s what you need to know if you have back pain

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Caitlin Jones, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney

    AsiaVision/Getty

    Spinal cord stimulators are electrical devices that are surgically implanted in the body to treat long-term pain. They have a battery pack and leads that deliver electrical impulses directly to the spinal cord. The devices are thought to work by providing electrical impulses that interfere with how the brain senses pain.

    Spinal cord stimulators are mainly used to treat chronic back pain, especially when other less invasive treatments have not worked. They also aim to reduce people’s reliance on risky pain medicines. These include opioids, which research shows are ineffective and harmful for low-back pain.

    But research, including our own, shows spinal cord stimulators work no better than a placebo. And they can also carry risks.

    Do they work?

    In a 2023 Cochrane review, researchers reviewed data from 13 randomised controlled trials on low-back pain and found no benefits in the short and medium term. These international reviews draw together the most robust evidence to provide a detailed summary of what we know on a particular topic.

    Only one of the trials in the review tested efficacy in the longer term (six months). That trial found no benefits of spinal cord stimulation.

    An earlier Cochrane review looked at the evidence of spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain in general, including for neck pain. Reviewers looked at 15 randomised controlled trials and couldn’t be certain about its benefits, largely due to the quality and reliability of the available trials.

    Are there side effects?

    Aside from disappointing results for pain relief, there are risks and side effects to consider.

    We co-authored an analysis of 520 adverse events reported to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). We found 79% of reported events were rated as severe, with 13% life-threatening. The same research found 80% of events required surgery to correct.

    Our recent analysis in the Medical Journal of Australia looked at data from private health insurers. These cover 90% of spinal cord stimulation implants in Australia. Five major insurers, which covered 76% of privately insured people, contributed de-identified data.

    We found about one-quarter of people who had a spinal cord stimulator implanted needed corrective surgery afterwards. These surgeries occurred within a median of about 17 months. This indicates these surgeries are not routine or expected interventions, such as to replace batteries, which are meant to last five to ten years.

    Our previous research shows the sorts of reasons for corrective surgery. These include to replace a malfunctioning device, or the person was in more pain, had an infection, or a puncture of the delicate tissues covering the spinal cord.

    However, even our latest findings are likely to underestimate the risk of these devices.

    Sometimes the lead delivering the electrical current moves away from the spinal cord to elsewhere in the body. This requires surgery to reposition the lead, but does not necessarily require new hardware, such as a brand new lead. So this type of corrective surgery is not counted in the data from the private health insurance companies.

    How much does it cost?

    We found spinal cord stimulators cost about A$55,000 per patient, including the device, its insertion, and managing any associated additional surgeries.

    For people who only had a “trial” – where the leads are implanted temporarily but the battery pack remains outside the body – this cost was about $14,000 per patient.

    These figures do not include any out-of-pocket costs.

    What do regulators say about the devices?

    In 2022 the TGA began a review of spinal cord stimulators on the market because of safety and performance concerns.

    As a result, several devices were removed from the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods – that is, they were banned from use in Australia, but existing stock could still be used.

    The rest of the devices had conditions imposed, such as the manufacturers being required to collect and report safety data to the TGA at regular time points.

    Should I do my own online research?

    Yes, but be careful. Unfortunately not all online information about spinal cord stimulators is correct.

    Look for sites independent of those who manufacture or implant these devices.

    Government agencies, health departments and universities that have no financial interests in this area may be a better option.

    The Cochrane Library is also a reliable and independent source for trustworthy health information.

    What shall I ask my doctor?

    The Australian health department provides useful advice for consumers about medical implants.

    It says medical implants “are considered higher-risk therapeutic goods, and the decision to get one should not be taken lightly”. It recommends asking your health professional these questions:

    • do I really need this medical implant?

    • what are the risks/benefits?

    • is the medical implant approved?

    • where can I get more information?

    • what happens if I experience an adverse event?

    What else could I do for my back pain?

    There are other treatment options that are effective and have fewer risks than spinal cord stimulation.

    For example, education about how to manage your pain yourself, exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy (a type of psychological therapy), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (such as ibuprofen) all have solid evidence to back them. All offer benefits that are not outweighed by their potential risks.

    Australian research has shown other types of therapy – such as sensorimotor retraining and cognitive functional therapy – are also effective. You can discuss these and other options with your health professional.

    Spinal cord stimulation is a good example of a treatment that got ahead of the evidence. Although the devices have been around since the 1960s, we’ve only had reliable trials to test whether they work in recent years.

    Everyone wants to find ways to help people with chronic pain, but we must ensure medical care is grounded in reliable science.

    Christopher Maher holds a research fellowship funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

    Caitlin Jones 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. Is spinal cord stimulation safe? Does it work? Here’s what you need to know if you have back pain – https://theconversation.com/is-spinal-cord-stimulation-safe-does-it-work-heres-what-you-need-to-know-if-you-have-back-pain-261364

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The first video of Earth’s surface lurching sideways in an earthquake offers new insights into this force of nature

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Jesse Kearse, Postdoctoral Researcher, Geophysics, Kyoto University

    Sai Aung MAIN/AFP via Getty Images

    During the devastating magnitude 7.7 Myanmar earthquake on March 28 this year, a CCTV camera captured the moment the plate boundary moved, providing the first direct visual evidence of plate tectonics in action.

    Tectonic plate boundaries are where chunks of Earth’s crust slide past each other – not smoothly, but in sudden, violent ruptures.

    The footage shows Earth’s surface lurching sideways, like a gigantic conveyor belt switched on for just a second, as the fault slips.

    What we’re seeing is the propagation of a large earthquake rupture – the primary mechanism that accommodates plate boundary motion at Earth’s surface. These shear fractures travel at several kilometres per second, making them notoriously difficult to observe.

    This video explains the moment Myanmar’s Sagaing Fault ruptured in a large earthquake, allowing the tectonic plate boundary to shift. Research: https://doi.org/10.1785/0320250024.

    These rare events, separated by centuries, have shaped our planet’s surface over millions of years, creating features such as Aotearoa New Zealand’s Alpine Fault and the Southern Alps.

    Until now, seismologists have relied on distant seismic instruments to infer how faults rupture during large earthquakes. This video sheds new light on the process that radiates seismic energy and causes the ground to shake.

    Analysis of the video

    In our new study, we analysed the video frame by frame. We used a technique called pixel cross-correlation to reveal that the fault slipped 2.5 metres sideways over a duration of just 1.3 seconds, with a maximum speed of 3.2 metres per second.

    The total sideways movement in this earthquake is typical of strike-slip fault ruptures, which move the land sideways (in contrast to faults that move land up and down).

    But the short duration is a major discovery.

    The timing of when a fault starts and stops slipping is especially difficult to measure from distant recordings, because the seismic signal becomes smeared as it travels through Earth.

    In this case, the short duration of motion reveals a pulse-like rupture – a concentrated burst of slip that propagates along the fault like a ripple travels down a rug when it’s flicked from one end.

    Capturing this kind of detail is fundamental to understanding how earthquakes work, and it helps us better anticipate the ground shaking likely to occur in future large events.

    Validation of the ‘slickenline’ hypothesis

    Our analysis also revealed something more subtle about the way the fault moved.

    We found the slip didn’t follow a straight path. Instead it curved. This subtle curvature mirrors patterns we’ve observed previously at fault outcrops.

    Called “slickenlines”, these geological scratch marks on the fault record the direction of slip.

    Our work shows the slickenlines we see on outcrops are curved in a manner similar to the curvature seen in the CCTV footage. Based on our video analysis, we can be certain that curved slip occurs, giving credence to our interpretations based on geological observations.

    In our earlier research, we used computer models to show that curved slickenlines could emerge naturally when an earthquake propagates in a particular direction. The Myanmar rupture, which is known to have travelled north to south, matches the direction predicted by our models.

    This alignment is important. It gives us confidence in using geological evidence to determine the rupture direction of past earthquakes, such as the curved slickenlines left behind after the New Zealand Alpine Fault’s 1717 earthquake.

    This first glimpse of a fault in motion shows the potential for video to become a powerful new tool in seismology. With more strategic deployments, future earthquakes could be documented with similar detail, offering further insight into the dynamics of fault rupture, potentially revolutionising our understanding of earthquake physics.

    Jesse Kearse receives funding from Royal Society Te Apārangi Marsden Fund.

    – ref. The first video of Earth’s surface lurching sideways in an earthquake offers new insights into this force of nature – https://theconversation.com/the-first-video-of-earths-surface-lurching-sideways-in-an-earthquake-offers-new-insights-into-this-force-of-nature-261004

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI China: Zoom in on 3rd CISCE from three perspectives

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

    The third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), which concluded on Sunday in Beijing, has reinforced its role as a vital platform for promoting resilient, diversified and cooperative global supply chains, with a promising increase in international collaborations.

    With over 6,000 cooperation agreements and partnership intents reached this year, the world’s first national-level exhibition dedicated to supply chains is steadily transforming the global supply network into a chain of shared benefits for all.

    “This event is much more than an expo. It is a forest of connections between economies, industries and people,” John Denton, the secretary-general of the International Chamber of Commerce, said at the opening ceremony. “We are here together to advance our shared prosperity.”

    Innovation

    After three editions, CISCE has built a reputation as a hub of technological innovation in supply chain and a striking showcase for China’s new quality productive forces.

    “Innovation is the defining feature of CISCE and the source of its vitality,” said Yu Jianlong, the vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), organizer of the expo.

    This year’s expo showcased an array of standout technologies, including a humanoid robot equipped with Nvidia chips, an AI-supported car paint defect inspection system, and a hydrogen energy supply chain display based on liquid hydrogen technology.

    Beyond the high-tech products dazzling eager audiences, this edition of the expo also spotlighted a deeper question: how to transform technological achievements into powerful drivers of industrial development.

    This year’s CISCE featured, for the first time, a dedicated innovation chain zone. Though modest in size, the zone brings together a diverse range of 14 participating institutions, including the World Intellectual Property Organization and the China National Intellectual Property Administration. These exhibitors represent key players across various stages of science and technology commercialization, ranging from policy-making and technology transfer to innovation incubation, and provide targeted solutions to critical challenges in transforming technological achievements.

    “Here in China, people are so advanced. The technology adoption is so fast,” said Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO, during an interview on the sidelines of the expo, citing many examples of how China’s innovative applications are setting global trends — with companies worldwide learning from its practices.

    Cooperation

    As an international expo shared by the world, the CISCE continues to promote inclusive and mutually beneficial cooperation globally. Through the expo, an increasing number of international participants are aligning with the world’s most comprehensive supply chain while keeping pace with its rapid development.

    According to the data from CCPIT, the expo has seen a steady rise in international participation. The proportion of overseas exhibitors has grown from 26 percent in the first edition to 32 percent in the second, and reached 35 percent this year. Over 65 percent of the exhibitors are Fortune Global 500 companies or industry leaders. Meanwhile, the geographic reach of participants has expanded from 55 countries and regions in the inaugural expo to 75 in the latest edition.

    Major multinational companies have utilized CISCE to strengthen local partnerships and expand their presence in China. “Over the past three years at CISCE, we’ve showcased progress alongside our suppliers in smart manufacturing, green manufacturing and talent development,” Isabel Ge Mahe, Apple’s vice president and managing director of Greater China, told Xinhua.

    She highlighted Apple’s 20 billion U.S. dollars investment in China over the past five years, primarily focused on innovation and supply chain advancements, and praised China’s dynamic innovation ecosystem and sophisticated smart supply chains. “We are deeply rooted here, incredibly proud of the supply chain we helped build, and will continue to invest and innovate with our local partners.”

    Domestic provinces also used the expo to court supply-chain partners. At a side event, southwest China’s Sichuan Province drew foreign giants with its complete industrial chain, pro-business climate and huge market.

    “We entered China more than 40 years ago and we’re still expanding,” said Utsugi Yuyama, executive officer of Japanese material manufacturer AGC Inc. The company already runs chemical and electronic lines in Sichuan and plans more. He hailed the province’s talent pool and comprehensive industrial chain, where local and foreign enterprises integrate to drive growth.

    Greener supply chain

    Green development has increasingly become the foundation and highlight of the expo. How to promote green and low-carbon development across industrial and supply chains has become a notable question at the expo, and an increasing number of major enterprises in their supply chain are stepping up with innovative solutions.

    “Green standards, including carbon tracking and sustainability metrics, are becoming essential across industries,” said Zhou Xing, head of public affairs at PwC China, who identified green transformation as one of the four key trends shaping the current global supply chain restructuring.

    At this year’s expo, multinational companies such as Schneider Electric made their debut, showcasing digital solutions for sustainable supply chain construction. The company is working to establish an efficient and resilient green supply chain that can respond swiftly to market shifts.

    “The supply chain expo provides an important platform for global enterprises, especially in green supply chain construction,” said Yin Zheng, executive vice-president of Schneider Electric and president of its China and East Asia operations. Yin added that Schneider Electric hopes to share its experience and seek more cooperation opportunities through the event.

    Returning to CISCE for the third consecutive year, Starbucks China spotlighted a comprehensive look at the “green path” from coffee bean to brewed cup. According to the company, around 30 percent of its total carbon emissions in China stem directly or indirectly from its own operations, while the remaining 70 percent originate upstream, from sectors like dairy production and logistics.

    To tackle this challenge, Starbucks China announced a strategic partnership with Envision Group, a leading green tech company, at this year’s expo. Over the next three years, the two sides will work together to roll out a digital carbon management platform aimed at gradually covering 100 percent of Starbucks China’s direct suppliers. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: New Cloud Mining Plans to Launch as Crypto Platforms AIXA Miner Prepare for Increased Retail Participation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Denver, Colorado, July 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With cryptocurrency prices stabilising at multi-month highs and mining infrastructure adapting to market momentum, several platforms are responding by updating their contract models, particularly for new users entering during this phase of renewed adoption. Starting Monday, July 21, AIXA Miner to roll out revised contract options designed to optimise accessibility, profitability, and energy alignment. These changes come as Bitcoin holds above $115,000 and demand for distributed infrastructure continues to rise globally.

    In a July 19 release, AIXA Miner highlighted backend expansions that support smart contract execution, AI-automated resource allocation, and global data centre load balancing. These updates have enabled more adaptive contract frameworks aligned with live market metrics and energy conditions.

    “The model of locking static contracts without regard for network variables or energy markets is becoming outdated,” said Marcus Enright, a blockchain infrastructure advisor and contributor to MiningData.io. “The next wave of platforms will need to offer contracts that are both cost-reflective and environmentally responsible.”

    In this context, the planned updates are timely. According to a 2025 industry report by Statista, the global cloud mining market is expected to reach $7.3 billion by 2028, with strong momentum driven by smart contract platforms, mobile-friendly interfaces, and broader demand for passive crypto income. New users are particularly active in this space, seeking exposure to crypto mining without owning physical hardware.

    The revised plans are expected to introduce variable-duration options that better accommodate entry-level capital, while being tied to automated performance metrics such as real-time hash price, network difficulty, and carbon offset ratios. This allows contracts to adapt to on-chain congestion and energy usage levels without requiring user-side intervention.

    Critically, the update also reflects a larger push toward sustainable mining practices. The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance has reported that 39% of current Bitcoin mining operations use renewable energy sources. However, cloud mining companies that transparently link contract payouts to energy origin—whether hydro, solar, or wind—are seen as taking the next logical step toward building a green blockchain infrastructure.

    AIXA Miner’s operations span the U.S., Southeast Asia, and South America, where their use of clean energy crypto infrastructure is backed by regional energy partnerships and smart grid monitoring. With Monday’s contract refresh, the company is expected to further integrate energy source transparency into its offering, responding to both ESG-minded users and regulatory shifts in key markets.

    “As user awareness grows, so does the expectation that crypto income should be both profitable and environmentally grounded,” said Elaine Zhang, Research Fellow at the Global CleanTech Blockchain Forum. “The idea of green mining isn’t just about optics—it’s about data traceability and operational accountability.”

    These developments coincide with broader market interest in tokenised yield products, staking-based derivatives, and decentralised investment vehicles—all of which now intersect with cloud mining as a high-profit platform model. The modularity of upcoming contracts is seen as a step toward better integrating cloud mining with the wider DeFi and blockchain ecosystem.

    With rollout scheduled for Monday, July 21st 2025, market watchers will be looking to see how updated mining plans compare across platforms in terms of returns, smart contract integration, and energy sourcing. For new entrants, the changes represent a chance to access adaptive contracts in a rising market—one that increasingly values transparency, automation, and sustainability.

    Media Contact:
    PR Division
    info@aixaminer.com
    https://aixaminer.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: New Cloud Mining Plans to Launch as Crypto Platforms AIXA Miner Prepare for Increased Retail Participation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Denver, Colorado, July 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With cryptocurrency prices stabilising at multi-month highs and mining infrastructure adapting to market momentum, several platforms are responding by updating their contract models, particularly for new users entering during this phase of renewed adoption. Starting Monday, July 21, AIXA Miner to roll out revised contract options designed to optimise accessibility, profitability, and energy alignment. These changes come as Bitcoin holds above $115,000 and demand for distributed infrastructure continues to rise globally.

    In a July 19 release, AIXA Miner highlighted backend expansions that support smart contract execution, AI-automated resource allocation, and global data centre load balancing. These updates have enabled more adaptive contract frameworks aligned with live market metrics and energy conditions.

    “The model of locking static contracts without regard for network variables or energy markets is becoming outdated,” said Marcus Enright, a blockchain infrastructure advisor and contributor to MiningData.io. “The next wave of platforms will need to offer contracts that are both cost-reflective and environmentally responsible.”

    In this context, the planned updates are timely. According to a 2025 industry report by Statista, the global cloud mining market is expected to reach $7.3 billion by 2028, with strong momentum driven by smart contract platforms, mobile-friendly interfaces, and broader demand for passive crypto income. New users are particularly active in this space, seeking exposure to crypto mining without owning physical hardware.

    The revised plans are expected to introduce variable-duration options that better accommodate entry-level capital, while being tied to automated performance metrics such as real-time hash price, network difficulty, and carbon offset ratios. This allows contracts to adapt to on-chain congestion and energy usage levels without requiring user-side intervention.

    Critically, the update also reflects a larger push toward sustainable mining practices. The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance has reported that 39% of current Bitcoin mining operations use renewable energy sources. However, cloud mining companies that transparently link contract payouts to energy origin—whether hydro, solar, or wind—are seen as taking the next logical step toward building a green blockchain infrastructure.

    AIXA Miner’s operations span the U.S., Southeast Asia, and South America, where their use of clean energy crypto infrastructure is backed by regional energy partnerships and smart grid monitoring. With Monday’s contract refresh, the company is expected to further integrate energy source transparency into its offering, responding to both ESG-minded users and regulatory shifts in key markets.

    “As user awareness grows, so does the expectation that crypto income should be both profitable and environmentally grounded,” said Elaine Zhang, Research Fellow at the Global CleanTech Blockchain Forum. “The idea of green mining isn’t just about optics—it’s about data traceability and operational accountability.”

    These developments coincide with broader market interest in tokenised yield products, staking-based derivatives, and decentralised investment vehicles—all of which now intersect with cloud mining as a high-profit platform model. The modularity of upcoming contracts is seen as a step toward better integrating cloud mining with the wider DeFi and blockchain ecosystem.

    With rollout scheduled for Monday, July 21st 2025, market watchers will be looking to see how updated mining plans compare across platforms in terms of returns, smart contract integration, and energy sourcing. For new entrants, the changes represent a chance to access adaptive contracts in a rising market—one that increasingly values transparency, automation, and sustainability.

    Media Contact:
    PR Division
    info@aixaminer.com
    https://aixaminer.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: International pop music festival kicks off on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, July 20 (Xinhua) — The 4th International Pop Music Festival “Making Asia” opened at the hippodrome in Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan on Sunday.

    Talented artists from more than 20 countries of Asia and Europe came to the event. Among them were performers from Kazakhstan, Turkey, Russia, as well as the best representatives of the Kyrgyz stage.

    As reported, the festival guests will have a rich program, which includes performances and cultural exchanges. The event is aimed at promoting the international image of Kyrgyzstan, its integration into the global tourism and humanitarian space.

    The festival will run until July 22. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –