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Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI China: Global pharma giants underscore local partnerships, R&D at China supply chain expo

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

    Global pharma giants underscore local partnerships, R&D at China supply chain expo

    From showcasing their latest products to forging local partnerships, global pharmaceutical companies have emphasized local research and development (R&D) and partnerships at the third China International Supply Chain Expo as they seek to strengthen their presence in one of their largest markets.

    The five-day expo highlights China’s importance to multinational firms as both a major market and a hub for global innovation, advanced manufacturing and resilient supply chains.

    “China is going to be the world’s largest healthcare market and a crucial source of innovation,” said Alex Gu, president of Medtronic Greater China, adding that China is playing an increasingly important role in the global healthcare industrial chain.

    In 2024, an electric surgical stapler developed by the U.S. company transitioned from research and development to mass production in China and is now used at over 500 hospitals nationwide. It has also been exported to other markets.

    Deep supply chain collaboration with local partners is vital and Medtronic now has nearly 7,000 suppliers in China.

    During the expo, the company launched a new partnership to build an AI-powered diagnostic and treatment system for aortic disease and structural heart disease. This is part of a broader trend in the pharmaceutical industry to use AI to drive R&D and improve disease diagnosis and treatment.

    At the expo, French drugmaker Sanofi exhibited its ecosystem, as well as its latest products for conditions such as immunological, cardiovascular, metabolic and other diseases.

    Local R&D plays a key role in Sanofi’s development. Sanofi now operates R&D centers in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, and its Chinese research staff have been deeply involved in over 90 percent of its global co-development projects, including 12 potential blockbuster drugs.

    For Sanofi, the supply chain expo serves as a platform not only to showcase its products but also to build collaborations.

    “Here, we explore innovative collaborations with our global partners, from R&D to production and patient accessibility enhancement, and share the latest results of localized practices,” said Wayne Shi, president of Sanofi Greater China. Sanofi will continue to support the Healthy China initiative with innovative drugs and vaccines, Shi said.

    Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk announced new partnerships with local manufacturing, logistics and tech firms at the expo, as part of its latest efforts to deepen local industrial chain cooperation.

    Novo Nordisk has continued to increase its investment in China, enhancing its presence throughout the industry chain to better serve patients in China. To date, the company has introduced 22 innovative drugs and 11 innovative injection devices in China for the treatment of diabetes, obesity and rare diseases.

    As a participant in all three editions of the supply chain expo, Novo Nordisk is joining more industrial chain partners this year to build a comprehensive health management ecosystem that drives chronic disease management, said Christine Zhou, president of Novo Nordisk Region China.

    Running from Wednesday to Sunday, the supply chain expo served as a key platform for multinational firms to strengthen collaboration with Chinese partners amid global economic uncertainties.

    The event has attracted 651 companies and institutions from 75 countries and regions. Overseas exhibitors account for 35 percent, a three-percentage-point increase from last year. 

    MIL OSI China News –

    July 21, 2025

  • 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 –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Labubu and Beyond: Deciphering the Rise of China’s ‘Intellectual Property Economy’

    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

    BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) — Before 2025, few could have predicted that a quirky plush doll with a toothy smile would capture the hearts of social media users around the world and spark a global buying frenzy. Labubu, created by Chinese toy maker Pop Mart, is becoming a new icon of the “intellectual property economy,” a booming sector in China’s economic landscape.

    A buzzword in China, the “IP economy” refers to the process of transforming intangible cultural assets—such as stories, characters, and brands—into a variety of products and services. The sector spans film and television, video games, animation, cultural creations, consumer goods, and many other areas.

    As the latest example of the IP economy, Labubu is rapidly evolving from a pop culture phenomenon to a high-yield collectible that is taking over the global market. The planet was recently stunned when a mint-colored Labubu doll sold at an auction in Beijing for over 1 million yuan. Fueled by the high demand for the doll, Pop Mart’s revenue in the first quarter of 2025 soared 165-170 percent year-on-year.

    Along with other successful Chinese IP assets such as the animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” and the video game “Black Myth: Wukong,” Labubu illustrates a growing trend in China: the transformation of culture and creativity, enhanced by advanced technology, into business opportunities across a wide range of sectors.

    TECHNOLOGICALLY DRIVEN CULTURAL REVIVAL

    With a history of more than five thousand years, China has a wealth of cultural treasures. However, reviving traditional culture in a modern way that appeals to younger generations, who are becoming the main consumer group, remains a challenge.

    With its innovation-driven development strategy and impressive technological achievements, China has paved a new path for cultural revival: transforming cultural classics into IP assets using cutting-edge technology.

    According to Wang Linsheng, a senior researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, such a transformation cannot be completed by simply copying ideas and concepts or presenting classics in digital form. Rather, it is a process of reinterpreting objects of the classic cultural layer of Chinese civilization to breathe new life into these eternal treasures.

    “With the support of digital technology, China combines cultural classics with modern IP management methods, aiming to transform traditional elements into products that meet the latest aesthetic trends and consumer demand,” Wang Linsheng said.

    His words are supported by the game “Black Myth: Wukong”, inspired by the classic Chinese literary masterpiece “Journey to the West”. Revealing the legendary adventures of Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, the game uses a range of advanced visual technologies to provide realistic scenes and an immersive experience for players of all cultural backgrounds.

    With its technological reimagining of a classic Chinese story, the game has transcended cultural boundaries and become a global hit. On the day of its official release, Black Myth: Wukong topped the charts of Steam, the world’s largest gaming platform, and has since dominated many other gaming markets around the world.

    Commenting on how technology is fueling China’s current IP boom, Chen Gang, an analyst at Soochow Securities, noted that advanced technologies such as 5G and cloud rendering are helping the country overcome the time and space limitations of traditional communication methods, thereby allowing Chinese cultural and entertainment products to reach a wider audience.

    In recent years, cultural sectors have become a powerful catalyst for China’s economic growth. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s per capita expenditure on education, culture and entertainment reached 3,189 yuan in 2024, up 9.8 percent from a year earlier and accounting for 11.3 percent of the country’s total per capita consumer spending.

    Highlighting the role of IP economy in driving economic growth, Wang Linsheng said IP goes beyond just culture or entertainment. The transformation of cultural classics into IP should be based on modern industrial development models, he added, noting that the process also involves various related sectors related to digital media.

    EMERGING INDUSTRIAL CHAIN

    As China’s IP economy continues to unleash its enormous growth potential, it is fostering an industrial chain that involves more and more upstream and downstream enterprises working together to create high-quality products.

    The Chinese fantasy animated film “Nezha 2,” which has already become the highest-grossing film in Chinese cinema history, has caused a “chain reaction” in various industries. To date, more than 10 types of related products based on the film have been planned and launched.

    Earlier this year, Pop Mart released a series of mystery boxes with a Nezha-themed designer toy on its online store on Tmall, a major Chinese online shopping platform. Just eight days after the series was released, the surprise boxes generated over 10 million yuan in revenue. In addition, other related products such as trading cards and plush toys also gained significant popularity.

    By promoting industrial integration based on original IP assets, China is well positioned to build a full industrial chain covering online literature, film and television, games and related products, said Hong Tao, vice chairman of the China Society for Consumer Economy.

    “This full industrial chain development model can expand the application scenarios of intellectual property and help build bridges between the virtual world and reality, thereby generating greater commercial value and economic benefits,” Hong Tao added.

    To achieve this goal, analysts suggested that the country should promote the harmonization of all links in the industrial chain. This can be achieved through the integration of independent IP objects and their systematic, coordinated development.

    “Chinese IP assets can learn from the Marvel universe, which brings together various superheroes in a single narrative structure,” Chen Gang said, adding that the growth model of the American pop culture icon has shown the way to strengthen the interconnectivity and coordination between different IP assets.

    Looking ahead, Wei Pengju, a scholar at the Central University of Finance and Economics, said China should welcome global cooperation in developing its original IP assets. “In this way, the country can make full use of its IP resources and build an international IP system that integrates both cultural and economic values,” he added. -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 –

    July 21, 2025

  • 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 –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: 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 society’s impositions and her already-written fate.

    Anne-Louise Sark’s adaptation takes that conflict much further.

    Carmen (Danielle de Niese at the performance I attended) is a gypsy who works in a cigarette factory. She catches the eye of Don José (Abraham Bretón), who obsessively falls in love with her.

    Don José’s love for Carmen devolves into what today would be succinctly called “toxic”. In a post-#metoo era, where we are all attuned to anti-racism teachings, Sarks gives us a contrast between the antiquated words sung in French, and the conscious effort to make those words exist in our contemporary world.

    This Carmen is defined by many degrees of contrast. This rocking feeling of contradiction keeps on growing until the climax in the very last act.

    A toxic love

    The opening act begins in a square of Seville. Marg Horwell’s design sees the stage strewn with fluorescent confetti spread all over the floor (as if the Sydney Mardi Gras parade had just ended), a chain link fence colourfully crowded with love locks and flashy ribbons, behind which peeks a monumental but austere cross typical of most squares in that part of Spain.

    There, a teenage couple – sporting polyester track suits – alongside a pair of young lovers similarly attired, and a string of children discordantly dressed stay in the background while one of the khaki-wearing guards begins to sing an aria to the protagonist, “La Carmencita”, also known as Carmen.

    The sensation of the contrast between this contemporary setting and Bizet’s original opera is deepened at the beginning of the second act at Lillas Pastia’s Tavern.

    Marg Horwell’s design plays into the contrast between this contemporary setting and Bizet’s original opera.
    Keith Saunders/Opera Australia

    The stage is crowded by a neon-filled atmosphere composed of camp portrayals of the Virgin Our Lady of Guadalupe and pop art images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

    The charm of the background is enhanced by the stellar performances of not only the two main protagonists, Carmen and Don José, but by an array of supporting characters that truly elevate this second bout of the action.

    A string of smugglers are at the tavern of Lillas Pastias, plotting how to bring about their criminal deeds with the help of Carmen, her close friends (incredibly played by Helen Sherman and Jane Ede), and critically Don José, who has just joined them.

    Blinded by this “toxic” love, Don José cannot help but to increase the dramatic tension when he realises Carmen is losing interest in him in favour of the famous bullfighter from Granada, Escamillo (Andrii Kymach).

    The production sees stellar performances from an array of supporting characters.
    Keith Saunders/Opera Australia

    The tension is fortified by the visual conflict between the irreverent religious décor and the ongoing action, consisting of an unruly mob drinking and dancing until the early hours of the morning.

    By the end of this second act, there is another turn of the screw in the depiction of Don José’s progressive possessiveness of Carmen, who in parallel begins to assert ever more explicitly the signs of her indomitability.

    Exploding tension

    The plot picks up pace in the third act, set in the smugglers’ hideout.

    There, an Othello-like Don José spirals down, green with jealousy, in the face of an increasingly distant Carmen. The more Don José wants her, the more Carmen is filled with desires of freedom from her possessive lover.

    This tense dynamic explodes in the fourth act.

    Set in a little cottage right outside a bullring in Seville, it is at this point obvious Carmen and the matador Escamillo are lovers – anticipating Don José’s fatal deed.

    Although the audience must have expected Carmen’s death at the hands of the spirited Don José, witnessing the act of her killing on stage comes as more than just an awaited unpleasant surprise.

    It works to anchor the conflict at the core of Sark’s adaptation.

    The more Don José wants her, the more Carmen is filled with desires of freedom from her possessive lover.
    Keith Saunders/Opera Australia

    For a flash moment, we are pushed to peek beyond the fiction. Don José strangles with his bare hands the actress playing Carmen, her arm hopelessly punching her aggressor, her legs writhing in despair. Such an instant from our sad reality shocks through the stage, breaking the fourth wall.

    The theatricalisation of Carmen’s killing is also the realisation that male violence against women is anything but a fiction – least of all one left in the distant past.

    Paradoxically, the quick lowering of the curtain and the much-deserved long applause that follows serves to cut short the impact of the “real” death of Carmen shown on stage.

    Perhaps, for the next version, a new director will find a newer way to make Carmen’s reality last beyond the many pleasures of watching this multi-layered drama unfold.

    Carmen is at the Sydney Opera House for Opera Australia until September 19, then playing in Melbourne.

    Ruben Perez-Hidalgo 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. Opera Australia gives us a rocking Carmen for the post-#metoo era – https://theconversation.com/opera-australia-gives-us-a-rocking-carmen-for-the-post-metoo-era-261103

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: 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, but they’re not all the same. Do you know the difference?

    What is sperm?

    Sperm are male reproductive (sex) cells. The word “sperm” can refer to spermatozoon (singular) or spermatozoa (plural).

    Sperm are tiny cells with an oval-shaped body and a long tail. They measure just 1/20th of a millimetre in length and can only be seen with a microscope.

    Sperm are produced in the two testes (testicles). The testes are glands located inside the scrotum (the skin sac underneath where the penis is attached to the body).

    The testes begin producing sperm at puberty. Sperm production then continues throughout adult life, beginning to decline around age 40. The testes make about 200 million sperm every day.

    To develop, sperm need a temperature range of 34–35°C, which is lower than core body temperature (usually between 36 and 37°C). This is why the testes are located in the cooler scrotum and not in the abdomen or pelvis.

    Each sperm carries chromosomes, which are made up of DNA and genes. When a sperm cell fertilises a female reproductive cell (an ovum or egg), the genetic information of the sperm and ovum combines to form an embryo.

    What is semen?

    Ejaculated sperm has to reach the uterine (fallopian) tubes to fertilise an egg. This is a long journey, so sperm are carried in a fluid that nourishes and protects it (seminal fluid).

    Semen is the mix of sperm and seminal fluid together. It is Latin for “seed” from serere, “to sow”. Semen only exists outside the body, because sperm and seminal fluid only combine at the point of ejaculation.

    Seminal fluid is made in the sex glands. These are the seminal vesicles and prostate, which sit just behind and below the bladder, respectively.

    Semen is about 10% sperm.
    Alila Medical Media/Shutterstock

    The seminal vesicles produce a thick, gel-like substance. It clumps the sperm together immediately after ejaculation and provides the sperm with energy (fructose) to survive their journey.

    This fluid is alkaline – the opposite to acidic – which protects sperm in the more acidic vagina.

    The prostate secretes a thinner, milky fluid with acids that liquefy the semen. This helps the sperm to separate from the initial clump so they can travel through the cervix and uterus to the uterine tubes.

    The prostate also provides zinc, which is essential for sperm survival.

    Ejaculating secretes these fluids and sperm into the urethra, the narrow tube that runs through the penis and also transports urine. At this point, they combine as semen.

    Semen is about 10% sperm and 90% fluid from the seminal vesicles and prostate.

    What happens after ejaculation

    Ejaculating usually produces between 1.5 and 5 millilitres of semen, and each mL contains anywhere between 15 and 200 million sperm.

    If semen is ejaculated into a vagina, sperm have to travel around 15 centimetres to reach the uterine tubes, which is the most common site for fertilisation.

    The fastest and healthiest sperm travel this distance – about 3,000 times their body length – in only 30 minutes.

    For a human of average height, this equates to swimming about 5 kilometres in half an hour. That means sperm can swim twice as fast as the current world record for a 5km open water swim.

    Does ‘pre-cum’ have sperm in it?

    An aroused and erect penis can secrete up to 4mL of pre-ejaculate (pre-cum), which is completely different to semen.

    Pre-ejaculate is produced by different sex glands – the small bulbourethral glands that sit just under the prostate. It is a mucus fluid that lubricates and flushes out the urethra in the penis.

    Theoretically, pre-ejaculate doesn’t contain sperm. However, one small study found the pre-ejaculate of about 40% of men they studied contained sperm, though in very low numbers.

    The risk of getting pregnant from pre-ejaculate is very low – but not zero.

    What can semen say about your overall health?

    Semen is usually creamy-white or pale grey. It often has a faint ammonia or bleach smell, because of its alkaline pH.

    However its colour, consistency and smell can vary between people and even on different days for the same person.

    If semen has a foul odour, it may indicate an infection and should be checked by a doctor.

    Contraception and fertility

    A vasectomy is a form of male contraceptive. This involves cutting the two vas deferens – the tubes that carry sperm from the testes to the urethra. After a vasectomy, ejaculating will produce slightly less semen and it won’t contain sperm.

    Clinical trials have also started for a new potential male contraceptive pill that blocks sperm production in the testes.

    Oxidative stress – an imbalance of too many damaging chemicals and not enough antioxidants – has a negative impact on sperm health and strongly contributes to male infertility.

    The World Health Organization has published a range of values for semen volume and sperm number, concentration, movement and structure among fertile males. However, low sperm count does not always mean lower fertility.

    To keep sperm healthy, it’s recommended to eat a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and not smoke, use recreational drugs or drink a lot of alcohol.

    Theresa Larkin 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. What’s the difference between sperm and semen? And can pre-ejaculate get you pregnant? – https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-sperm-and-semen-and-can-pre-ejaculate-get-you-pregnant-253212

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    July 21, 2025

  • 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 –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Global pharma giants underscore local partnerships, R&D at expo

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

    An AI-powered orthopedic surgical robot is seen in the Healthy Life Chain area of the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, July 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    From showcasing their latest products to forging local partnerships, global pharmaceutical companies have emphasized local research and development (R&D) and partnerships at the third China International Supply Chain Expo as they seek to strengthen their presence in one of their largest markets.

    The five-day expo highlights China’s importance to multinational firms as both a major market and a hub for global innovation, advanced manufacturing and resilient supply chains.

    “China is going to be the world’s largest healthcare market and a crucial source of innovation,” said Alex Gu, president of Medtronic Greater China, adding that China is playing an increasingly important role in the global healthcare industrial chain.

    In 2024, an electric surgical stapler developed by the U.S. company transitioned from research and development to mass production in China and is now used at over 500 hospitals nationwide. It has also been exported to other markets.

    Deep supply chain collaboration with local partners is vital and Medtronic now has nearly 7,000 suppliers in China.

    During the expo, the company launched a new partnership to build an AI-powered diagnostic and treatment system for aortic disease and structural heart disease. This is part of a broader trend in the pharmaceutical industry to use AI to drive R&D and improve disease diagnosis and treatment.

    At the expo, French drugmaker Sanofi exhibited its ecosystem, as well as its latest products for conditions such as immunological, cardiovascular, metabolic and other diseases.

    Local R&D plays a key role in Sanofi’s development. Sanofi now operates R&D centers in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, and its Chinese research staff have been deeply involved in over 90 percent of its global co-development projects, including 12 potential blockbuster drugs.

    For Sanofi, the supply chain expo serves as a platform not only to showcase its products but also to build collaborations.

    “Here, we explore innovative collaborations with our global partners, from R&D to production and patient accessibility enhancement, and share the latest results of localized practices,” said Wayne Shi, president of Sanofi Greater China. Sanofi will continue to support the Healthy China initiative with innovative drugs and vaccines, Shi said.

    Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk announced new partnerships with local manufacturing, logistics and tech firms at the expo, as part of its latest efforts to deepen local industrial chain cooperation.

    Novo Nordisk has continued to increase its investment in China, enhancing its presence throughout the industry chain to better serve patients in China. To date, the company has introduced 22 innovative drugs and 11 innovative injection devices in China for the treatment of diabetes, obesity and rare diseases.

    As a participant in all three editions of the supply chain expo, Novo Nordisk is joining more industrial chain partners this year to build a comprehensive health management ecosystem that drives chronic disease management, said Christine Zhou, president of Novo Nordisk Region China.

    Running from Wednesday to Sunday, the supply chain expo served as a key platform for multinational firms to strengthen collaboration with Chinese partners amid global economic uncertainties.

    The event has attracted 651 companies and institutions from 75 countries and regions. Overseas exhibitors account for 35 percent, a three-percentage-point increase from last year.

    MIL OSI China News –

    July 21, 2025

  • 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 –

    July 21, 2025

  • 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

    • AIXA Miner

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025

  • 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

    • AIXA Miner

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025

  • 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 –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Failings around known and avoidable risks identified in Maritime NZ prosecution of stevedoring company

    Source: Maritime New Zealand

    A strong reminder has been sent to a stevedoring company and others in the industry after a stevedore was badly injured while unloading cargo.

    Qube Ports NZ Limited was recently sentenced in the Tauranga District Court in relation to a 2022 incident onboard the bulk carrier, Daiwan Hero. It had previously pleaded guilty to breaching its duty as a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU), by exposing an individual to a risk of death or serious injury under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

    The incident resulted in a stevedore falling about six metres while removing cardboard and debris in the hold. They suffered numerous injuries to their legs, requiring surgery.

    When the incident occurred, large tissue pulp reels were being unloaded from the vessel. These were stacked up to nine metres on top of each other.  

    Maritime NZ Investigations Manager, John Maxwell, says while there were safety processes in place to reduce the potential for a fall from height, the operator did not meet all the safety standards required to protect its workers on this occasion.  

    “Despite the relevant safety documentation being in place, Qube failed to implement the identified safety measures within its operating procedures,” Mr Maxwell says.

    Working from heights is a known critical risk. The outcome is an important message for operators to properly ensure critical risks are appropriately controlled in order to keep people safe.

    In sentencing Judge Mason made orders totalling just over $300,000 against Qube Ports NZ Limited.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Britain’s job market sliding under rising labor cost, US tariff threat

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

    Photo taken on Jan. 18, 2022 shows a job center sign in Manchester, Britain. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Britain’s job market continues to show clear signs of weakening, with unemployment rising and recruitment stagnating amid escalating labor costs and external economic pressures. Experts have warned that uncertainty stemming from U.S. tariffs is further exacerbating the situation.

    Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday revealed that the country’s unemployment rate for people aged 16 and over stood at 4.7 percent during the March-May period of 2025. This marks a notable increase both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter, pushing the rate to its highest level in nearly four years.

    The ONS figures also showed job vacancies climbing to new highs, indicating that despite a growing number of unemployed individuals, businesses are still struggling to fill positions.

    “The government’s tax rises, a higher minimum wage and the U.S. trade war are hitting the jobs market,” Financial Times reported.

    David Bharier, head of research at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), told Xinhua that steep increases in national insurance contributions and the national living wage weigh heavily on the latest employment data.

    “BCC research shows that recruitment remains challenging, and businesses cite labor costs as the biggest pressure,” Bharier said. “This mounting financial pressure, alongside pervasive skills shortages, remains a massive challenge for business, presenting big risks to investment and productivity.”

    According to Bharier, the BCC’s most recent economic forecast suggests hiring will remain subdued and the unemployment rate is expected to stay largely static. “We currently forecast a rate of 4.6 percent at the end of 2027,” he said.

    Tina McKenzie, policy chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), stressed that the latest trends paint a worrying picture for Britain’s small business sector.

    “New FSB research has found that twice as many small businesses shed staff in the second quarter of 2025-20 percent-than increased their employee numbers,” she said.

    For the first time in the 15-year history of the FSB’s quarterly Small Business Index, more small businesses expect to shrink or close over the next 12 months than those that expect to expand. “That’s more than alarming for the economy and for communities across Britain where these hard-working businesses operate,” she said, noting that small businesses currently provide more than 16 million jobs in Britain-over half of all private sector employment.

    Experts also believe the ongoing threat of U.S. tariffs is contributing to the negative data and will continue to influence Britain’s job market and economy in the long term, despite the existence of a trade agreement.

    William Bain, head of policy at the BCC, said their April survey revealed that 62 percent of firms exporting to the U.S. had been affected by rising costs and order book pressures caused by higher U.S. tariffs, a sentiment that aligns with the rising unemployment figures reported by the ONS.

    David Bailey, professor of business economics at the University of Birmingham, noted that U.S. tariffs are impacting Britain’s export-driven sectors and, in turn, the job market.

    “Even though Britain has got this deal with Trump on tariffs, the tariffs are still going up from 2.5 percent to 10 percent. It may not be 25 percent, but it’s still going to affect exports from Britain and therefore hit economic growth,” Bailey said, adding that this uncertainty for British firms, combined with the government’s “mistake” of raising national insurance contributions alongside the higher minimum wage, has contributed to the sluggish employment situation. 

    MIL OSI China News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Inflation remains within target range

    Source: New Zealand Government

    New data released today shows inflation remains under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.

    Stats NZ released the Consumers Price Index today, showing inflation increased slightly to 2.7 per cent in the 12 months to the June 2025 quarter, remaining in the Reserve Bank’s target range.

    “It’s the fourth consecutive quarter inflation has remained within the target range – a stark contrast to under the previous government, where inflation raged on unchecked, reaching 7.3 per cent in 2022,” Nicola Willis says.

    “New Zealanders can be assured it now has a Government that is paying attention to forces that affect their cost of living.

    “It’s pleasing to see non-tradeables inflation – which paints a picture of domestic demand and supply conditions – continues to fall.

    “However, the effect of council rates on inflation is a concern.”

    Stats NZ noted the largest single contributor to annual inflation was local authority rates and payments, which rose 12.2 per cent in the year.

    “That’s why this Government has also been clear in its call to councils to focus on the basics and keep rates under control. We look forward to councils taking heed of this and playing their role as stewards of ratepayers’ money better in the future.

    “External pressures on inflation remain, and we must remain cautious – it’s a reminder that the economic recovery is not to be taken for granted.

    “That’s why this Government is focused on economic growth, because that is New Zealand’s pathway to more jobs, higher incomes and the money to pay for schools, hospitals and safer communities.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    July 21, 2025

  • 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 –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: RICH Miner launches XRP automated mining service, making passive income within reach for Ripple holders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chicago, Illinois, July 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RICH Miner, the world’s best cloud mining platform, has officially launched a new XRP automated mining service, creating a zero-threshold passive income path for Ripple (XRP) holders, allowing each XRP to create more value for holders.

    XRP automated mining – a new model for asset appreciation

    RICH Miner XRP automated mining service innovatively solves this pain point, allowing users to obtain stable returns from mainstream assets such as Bitcoin (BTC) without complicated operations, and achieve efficient asset appreciation.

    Why choose RICH Miner’s XRP automated mining?

    ① Fully automated, zero operation
    Users only need to recharge XRP to the platform account, and the system will automatically convert it into the corresponding computing power and start mining immediately. No technical knowledge is required, no need to buy mining machines or install software.

    ② Daily settlement, stable income
    The platform automatically calculates and settles income every day, and automatically distributes it to the user’s account, truly realizing “sleeping income”, which is transparent and stable.

    ③ Multiple security protections, trustworthy hosting
    The platform adopts strict cold and hot wallet isolation storage, and passes third-party security audits to ensure the safety of user assets.

    How does XRP automated mining work?

    Users recharge XRP to purchase contracts for Bitcoin mining. The process is as follows:

    Step 1: Register an account
    Register an account through the RICH Miner official website to get a $15 novice bonus.

    Step 2: Recharge XRP to generate computing power
    Get a dedicated XRP recharge address on the platform, recharge XRP to the platform, and the system automatically converts assets into computing power and invests in mining.

    Step 3: Select a mining contract:
    Browse different XRP mining plans (short-term/long-term/high-yield plans), select and confirm the purchase according to personal preferences.

    (New User Experience Contract) Investment amount: $100; Term: 2 days; Daily income: $3; Total income: $100.00 + $6.

    (Canaan Avalon A15XP) Investment amount: $600; Term: 8 days; Daily income: $7.20; Total income: $500.00 + $57.60.

    (Bitdeer SealMiner A2) Investment amount: $1,300; Term: 13 days; Daily income: $17.30; Total income: $1,300.00 + $221.39.

    (Bitmain Antminer L7) Investment amount: $3,000; Term: 17 days; Daily income: $42.30; Total income: $3,000.00 + $719.10.

    (Bitmain Antminer S21 Immersive) Investment amount: $5,600; Term: 24 days; Daily income: $84.00; Total income: $5,600.00 + $2,016.00.

    (Bitmain Antminer L9) Investment amount: $12,000; Term: 32 days; Daily income: $204.00; Total income: $12,000.00 + $6,528.00.

    → Click here to view more contracts

    Step 4: Enjoy daily benefits:
    After the user purchases the contract, the system automatically calculates and distributes mining benefits to the account every day, which can be withdrawn or reinvested at any time for continuous appreciation.

    How do XRP holders benefit?
    The following is an actual user case:

    After user A topped up $1,300 worth of XRP, he automatically received about $17.03 in BTC income every day, with an average monthly return of $510.90, and the annualized income significantly exceeded that of simply holding coins and waiting for appreciation.

    User B said: “In the past, I just simply held coins and waited for appreciation. Now through automated mining, I can reap income every day, and I feel that the assets are really alive.”

    Conclusion:

    The XRP automated mining service launched by RICH Miner truly makes passive income within reach. Whether it is a senior coin holder or a novice who has just entered the encryption field, you can easily get started and make profits with peace of mind. This is not only an upgrade of the mining method, but also an innovation of investment strategy.

    Take action now, say goodbye to the era of holding coins and waiting, and let your XRP automatically increase in value from today!

    Visit the official website now to start the experience: https://richminer.com
    APP download: Support iOS/Android
    Customer service email: info@richminer.com

    Attachment

    • RICH Miner

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: 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 this year’s Te Maeva Nui, which is the name for the annual celebrations, is going to be huge.

    “For the first time in a long time, we are able to bring all our people together for a long-awaited reunion, from discussions with the teams that have already arrived, there’s only handful of people that’s been left on each of our outer islands,” Kairua said.

    “Basically, the outer islands have been emptied out.”

    According to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, more than 900 people are making the trip to Rarotonga from the Pa Enua which are spread across an area similar to the size of Mexico.

    Cook Islands News reports that the government has allocated $4.1 mllion for event transport.

    Biggest calendar event
    Kairua said Te Maeva Nui is the biggest event on the Cook Islands’ calendar.

    “Te Maeva Nui has become an iconic event for the Cook Islands, for the nation, as well as the diaspora.”

    A comparable event was in 2015 when 50 years was marked.

    Kairua said for many people it will be the first time visiting Rarotonga since the start of the covid-19 pandemic.

    “Sixty years looks like it’s going to be a lot bigger than 50 for a number of reasons, because we’ve had that big gap since covid hit. If we liken it to covid it’s like the borders being lifted, and everyone now has that freedom to come to Raro.”

    Two ships, one from Tonga and the other from Tuvalu, are tasked with transporting people from the Northern Group islands to Rarotonga.

    While, Air Rarotonga has the job of moving people from the Southern Group.

    Tourist season peak
    The airline’s general manager Sarah Moreland said Te Maeva Nui comes during the peak of the tourism season, making July a very busy month.

    “We’ve got about 73 people from Mauke, 76 passengers from Mangaia, 88 from Aitutaki, 77 from Atiu and even 50 coming from the small island of Mitiaro, Nukuroa,” Moreland said.

    She said transporting people for Te Maeva Nui is a highlight for staff.

    “They love it, I think it’s so cool that we get to bring the Pa Enua from the islands, they just come to Rarotonga, they bring a whole different vibe. They’re so energetic, they’re ready for the competition, it just adds to the buzz of the whole Te Maeva Nui, it’s actually awesome.”

    The executive officer of Atiu Taoro Brown said two months of preparation had gone into the performances which represents the growth of the nation over the past 60 years.

    “It’s an exciting time, we come together, we’re meeting all our cousins and all our families from all the other islands, our sister islands, it’s a special moment.”

    Brown said this year the island had given performance slots to people from Atiu living in Rarotonga, Australia and New Zealand.

    “We wanted everybody from around the region to participate in celebrations.”

    Friendly competition
    Food is another big part of the event, an area Brown said there’s a bit of friendly competition in between islands.

    Pigs, taro, and “organic chicken” had all been sent to Rarotonga from Atiu.

    “Everyone likes to think they’ve got this the best dish but the food I feel, it’s all the same, you know, the island foods, it’s about the time that you put in.”

    For Kairua and his team at the Ministry of Culture, he said they needed to mindful to not allow the event to pass in a blur.

    “Otherwise we end up organising the whole thing and not enjoying it.

    “This is not our first big rodeo, or mine. I was responsible for taking away probably the biggest contingency to Hawai’i for the FestPAC and because we got so busy with organising it and worrying about the minor details, many of us at the management desk forgot to enjoy it, but this time, we are aware.”

    Turbulent relationship
    In the backdrop of celebrations, the Cook Islands and New Zealand’s relationship is in turbulent period.

    Last month, New Zealand paused $18.2 million in development assistance funding to the nation, citing a lack of consultation over several controversial deals with China.

    Unlike for the 50th celebrations, New Zealand’s prime minister and foreign minister will not attend the celebrations, with the Governor-General representing New Zealand.

    A statement from the Cook Islands Office of the Prime Minister last week said officials from the country have reconfirmed their commitment to restore mutual trust with New Zealand in a meeting on 10 July.

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

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: 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 foreign investment in New Zealand. But it has had almost no public scrutiny.

    If the Overseas Investment (National Interest Test and Other Matters) Amendment Bill becomes law, it could have far-reaching consequences. Public submissions on the bill close on July 23.

    A product of the ACT-National coalition agreement, the bill commits to amend the Overseas Investment Act 2005 “to limit ministerial decision making to national security concerns and make such decision making more timely”.

    There are valid concerns that piecemeal reforms to the current act have made it complex and unwieldy. But the new bill is equally convoluted and would significantly reduce effective scrutiny of foreign investments – especially in forestry.

    A three-step test

    Step one of a three-step process set out in the bill gives the regulator – the Overseas Investment Office which sits within Land Information NZ – 15 days to decide whether a proposed investment would be a risk to New Zealand’s “national interest”.

    If they don’t perceive a risk, or that initial assessment is not completed in time, the application is automatically approved.

    Transactions involving fisheries quotas and various land categories, or any other applications the regulator identifies, will require a “national interest” assessment under stage two.

    These would be assessed against a “ministerial letter” that sets out the government’s general policy and preferred approach to conducting the assessment, including any conditions on approvals.

    Other mandatory factors to be considered in the second stage include the act’s new “purpose” to increase economic opportunity through “timely consent” of less sensitive investments. The new test would allow scrutiny of the character and capability of the investor to be omitted altogether.

    If the regulator considers the national interest test is not met, or the transaction is “contrary to the national interest”, the minister of finance then makes a decision based on their assessment of those factors.

    Inadequate regulatory process

    Seymour has blamed the current screening regime for low volumes of foreign investment. But Treasury’s 2024 regulatory impact statement on the proposed changes to international investment screening acknowledges many other factors that influence investor decisions.

    Moreover, the Treasury statement acknowledges public views that foreign investment rules should “manage a wide range of risks” and “that there is inherent non-economic value in retaining domestic ownership of certain assets”.

    Treasury officials also recognised a range of other public concerns, including profits going offshore, loss of jobs, and foreign control of iconic businesses.

    The regulatory impact statement did not cover these factors because it was required to consider only the coalition commitment. The Treasury panel reported “notable limitations” on the bill’s quality assurance process.

    A fuller review was “infeasible” because it could not be completed in the time required, and would be broader than necessary to meet the coalition commitment to amend the act in the prescribed way.

    The requirement to implement the bill in this parliamentary term meant the options officials could consider, even within the scope of the coalition agreement, were further limited.

    Time constraints meant “users and key stakeholders have not been consulted”, according to the Treasury statement. Environmental and other risks would have to be managed through other regulations. There is no reference to te Tiriti o Waitangi or mana whenua engagement.

    Forestry ‘slash’ after Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023: no need to consider foreign investors’ track records.
    Getty Images

    No ‘benefit to NZ’ test

    While the bill largely retains a version of the current screening regime for residential and farm land, it removes existing forestry activities from that definition (but not new forestry on non-forest land). It also removes extraction of water for bottling, or other bulk extraction for human consumption, from special vetting.

    Where sensitive land (such as islands, coastal areas, conservation and wahi tapu land) is not residential or farm land, it would be removed from special screening rules currently applied for land.

    Repeal of the “special forestry test” – which in practice has seen most applications approved, albeit with conditions – means most forestry investments could be fast-tracked.

    There would no longer be a need to consider investors’ track records or apply a “benefit to New Zealand” test. Regulators may or may not be empowered to impose conditions such as replanting or cleaning up slash.

    The official documents don’t explain the rationale for this. But it looks like a win for Regional Development Minister Shane Jones, and was perhaps the price of NZ First’s support.

    It has potentially serious implications for forestry communities affected by climate-related disasters, however. Further weakening scrutiny and investment conditions risks intensifying the already devastating impacts of international forestry companies. Taxpayers and ratepayers pick up the costs while the companies can minimise their taxes and send profits offshore.

    Locked in forever?

    Finally, these changes could be locked in through New Zealand’s free trade agreements. Several such agreements say New Zealand’s investment regime cannot become more restrictive than the 2005 act and its regulations.

    A “ratchet clause” would lock in any further liberalisation through this bill, from which there is no going back.

    However, another annex in those free trade agreements could be interpreted as allowing some flexibility to alter the screening rules and criteria in the future. None of the official documents address this crucial question. As an academic expert in this area I am uncertain about the risk.

    But the lack of clarity underlines the problems exemplified in this bill. It is another example of coalition agreements bypassing democratic scrutiny and informed decision making. More public debate and broad analysis is needed on the bill and its implications.

    Jane Kelsey has received funding from the Marsden Fund for research related to New Zealand’s foreign investment regime and international agreements.

    – ref. Why has a bill to relax foreign investment rules had so little scrutiny? – https://theconversation.com/why-has-a-bill-to-relax-foreign-investment-rules-had-so-little-scrutiny-261370

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australian gamemakers level-up with major funding from Screen Australia

    Source: AMP Limited

    21 07 2025 – Media release

    Retopia
    New games capture distinctive stories, landscapes and communities from across the country
    Screen Australia has today announced the latest games and gaming events to be supported through the agency’s industry-leading funding programs – providing $1.4 million for gamemakers to upskill and develop stand-out projects.
    The funding supports 26 games including a hand-drawn puzzle game about a flooded village rebuilding after climate catastrophe, a point-and-click visual novel with small town mysteries to solve, and an action-adventure RPG (Role-Playing Game) about a brave native mouse. It also supports the Freeplay 2025 Events Series, solidifying the agency’s commitment to foster a sector that has both a robust sense of independence and a strong community focus.
    In 2024-25, the agency invested $3 million into the tenacious local industry which included support for 49 games and 200 Australian gamemakers. Initiatives like the Future Leaders Delegation and support for ten Festivals and Events provided Australian independent gamemakers the opportunity to showcase over 270 games for national and international audiences.
    Minister for the Arts Tony Burke said, “Digital Games are a billion dollar global industry and Australia’s sector is growing every year. This funding ensures that we’re backing home-grown talent in order to be at the top of the leader board.”
    Screen Australia Head of Games Joey Egger said, “What struck me about these projects is the depth of talent and the distinctiveness of the content; the diversity of our culture, communities, landscapes and stories really shines through. We’re seeing games being developed all across the country including regional towns such as Wallabadah in New South Wales and Toongabbie in Victoria.”  
    “It’s also incredibly exciting to see another round of projects transitioning from the Emerging Gamemakers Fund through to the Games Production Fund. It reinforces our unique position as an end-to-end avenue for Australian gamemakers to take their projects from concept to prototype, to production and then launch.”
    The past 12 months have seen five games from the Emerging Gamemakers Fund progressing to the Games Production Fund: Monster Snap (WA), Rocketcard Defence (ACT), Wyrmspace Tactics (VIC) and L8R SK8R (QLD), as well as Management in Space (NSW).
    Funded games include:

    Ashes (VIC): For fans of graphic novels and interactive fiction, seasoned players and those new to games, comes adventure game Ashes. The creative team includes producer/developer Clea Frost, lead developer Nick Loki, 2D artists Phoenix Waddell and Jennifer Reuter and composer Trent Francis. It follows 16-year-old skater Azar Warren who, after witnessing a murder, takes refuge in a rural compound with her estranged grandfather.
    Buru and The Old People (NSW): A narrative-driven adventure game set in a vibrant anthropomorphic world rich in Indigenous storytelling. Buru and The Old People is from creative director and recipient of the ‘Rising Star’ award at the 2024 Australian Game Developer Awards Benjamin Armstrong, producer Brooke Collard (Yokai), 2D artist Letoya Muraru, and composer Alexander Tulett.
    Nothing To Do Summer Vacation – Part 1 (NT): A unique point and click visual novel game from lead programmer Adam Prenger and creative director Mel Stringer, an accomplished illustrator and comic artist making her exciting debut in games. In this game, Summer is bored out of her mind in the small town of Driftwood, until fresh mysteries come calling to be uncovered.
    Penguin Colony (VIC): A stylish action-adventure game from producer Megan Faulkner, audio engineer David Mason and creative director Naphtali Faulkner, the developer behind the Independent Games Festival Grand Prize-winning Umurangi Generation. In Penguin Colony, players explore the depths of Antarctica at their own pace as different penguins – unravelling difficult truths along the way.
    Retopia (NSW): From creative lead Jennyfer Ong, lead designer Nicholas King and lead producer James Lockrey, this cosy management game is the latest project from the Australian Game Developer Awards’ 2024 Studio of the Year, Chaos Theory Games. Retopia follows a cast of quirky robot companions as they restore life to a collapsed world by salvaging lost technology, rebuilding community, and nurturing a floating sanctuary in the sky. The game continues Chaos Theory’s tradition of values-driven development after the success of the award-winning Crab God.
    Fern: Seed Guardian (WA): An action-adventure RPG from creative director Sophie Till and technical director Jamie Dougall. In a fantastical Australian bushland, a brave native mouse battles an encroaching, mysterious goo.  She must overcome not only this encroaching danger but also her deep fears, as the Goo uses them to manipulate her perception of reality.
    Slumbering Woods (QLD): An evocative, hand-drawn puzzle adventure game with a unique crafting and building twist from creative director Svitlana Amelina, lead developer Oleg Chernyshenko and sound designer Jane Wei. In a world recovering from a long-past climate catastrophe, players help a flooded village thrive, rebuild and find their way home along the way. Slumbering Woods is financed with support from Screen Queensland’s Games Grants.

    Additional projects supported through the Games Production Fund include Bravest Coconut (QLD), Mission Delta (VIC), Dungeon Breakers (NSW) and Rocketcard Defence (ACT).
    Additional projects supported through the Emerging Gamemakers Fund include SCAV (VIC), Pixellated (VIC), Dead Zone Mycologist (VIC), Dicot (VIC), Ash and Earth: Wilderness Reclaimed (NSW), Spin Spirits (WA), Eclipsia (NSW), Untitled Cube Game (Working Title) (QLD), Stewards of Nu Juno (QLD), Displaced: Oath of Tomes (VIC),Kaiju Critters (QLD)and Trinket (NSW).
    For the full list of funded gamemakers and projects supported throughout the 2024-25FY, please see the Games blocklines here.
    Applications for the Emerging Gamemakers Fund and Games Production Fund are now open. For more information about Games funding at Screen Australia and to apply, click here.
    For accompanying image assets, click here.
    Ashes
    Media enquiries
    Jessica Parry | Senior Publicist (Mon, Tue, Thu)
    + 61 428 767 836  | [email protected]
    All other general/non-media enquiries
    Sydney + 61 2 8113 5800  |  Melbourne + 61 3 8682 1900 | [email protected]

    MIL OSI News –

    July 21, 2025

  • 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 –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Employment – Kmart workers secure new “industry-leading” two-year living wage deal

    Source: Workers First Union

    Kmart workers are celebrating today after Workers First Union members ratified a new 2-year pay deal that includes minimum living wages after six months’ service for both 2025 and 2026, union-only bonuses and more.
    Rudd Hughes, Deputy Secretary (Retail) at Workers First, said he believed the new agreement put Kmart workers among the highest-paid retail chain workers in the country.
    “We’re extremely proud of our Kmart bargaining team and hopeful that this new agreement sets a standard in the retail industry that other big brands are paying attention to,” said Mr Hughes.
    “We started negotiations with the company talking about the CPI and “clawbacks” of previous entitlements, but due to the efforts of our dedicated group of Kmart workers on the bargaining team, we’ve ended with an industry-leading agreement that includes a progressive living wage for two years and a generous union-only bonus.”
    Of the more than 1,110 Workers First members at Kmart, 96% voted to ratify the new collective agreement in a series of store-by-store meetings over the last three weeks. The agreement includes the new living wage of $28.95 per hour after six months’ service from September 2025, increasing to the living wage for 2026/27 the following year, union-only bonuses of $500 for full-time workers, $350 for part-time workers and $200 for casual workers, an improved pathway from casual to permanent employment, and an increase to safety and medical footwear reimbursements. 
    For Tarsh Sullivan, a coordinator from Kmart Te Rapa who was part of the bargaining team, the new agreement is a “huge win” for workers.
    “The union-only bonus is a big deal for a lot of the younger workers because it shows them why we’re in a union and what you can do when you stick together,” said Ms Sullivan.
    “We were also really happy to lock in a better pathway for casual workers to get into full-time employment, because you can get stuck there in retail jobs sometimes.”
    “The future is unpredictable, especially under this Government. I’m happy that we’re making progress and moving forward with this deal – we know it’s not the same for all retail workers at the moment.”
    “Our goal now is to keep recruiting new union members and building momentum for next time we bargain, because we can do even better.”
    Rudd Hughes said the Kmart deal sent a clear message to other big-box retailers like Farmers, The Warehouse and Briscoes.
    “Many of the other big retailers still don’t believe their staff are worth a living wage,” said Mr Hughes. “But Kmart has been thriving as a business because their staff are fairly paid and feel more motivated and valued by their employer.”
    “We need to start measuring company success differently and move on from the ‘infinite growth’ mentality. We should be asking companies more about what their staff earn, not their CEO.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    July 21, 2025

  • 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

    • AIXA Miner

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025

  • 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

    • AIXA Miner

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Next steps for self-driving vehicles as future passengers help shape self-driving vehicles law

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Next steps for self-driving vehicles as future passengers help shape self-driving vehicles law

    Have your say on the proposed automated passenger services permitting scheme until 28 September 2025.

    • first taxi-, private-hire- and bus-like services of self-driving vehicles can hit the road from spring 2026, following recent decision to fast-track pilots
    • process to shape key laws regulating the new self-driving vehicle passenger services starts today as part of next steps towards rollout of the vehicles
    • new technology could provide more accessible travel options and boost transport in rural areas, while creating 38,000 jobs and unlocking a £42 billion industry – all part of the Plan for Change

    The public and industry are being encouraged to help shape the future of self-driving vehicles, as they are invited to offer their views to make them safe and accessible before the first services become available next year.

    Today (21 July 2025), Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood has launched a consultation on the automated passenger services (APS) permitting scheme and the draft statutory instrument, a key legal element of how taxi-, private-hire- and bus-like services of self-driving vehicles will be regulated once they hit roads in Great Britain.

    Safety, innovation, world-leading regulation and accessibility will be at the forefront of the consultation – with the self-driving vehicles rollout aiming to help reduce human error, which contributes to 88% of all road collisions.

    Self-driving vehicles can provide greater choice and flexibility for passengers to get around more easily, including during unsociable hours. They could also help add new public transport options in rural areas to boost connectivity for local communities and improve mobility, accessibility and independence for those unable to drive.

    The consultation follows the recent government decision to fast-track pilots of self-driving passenger vehicles to Spring 2026, helping the industry to innovate and grow. This will allow firms to pilot small-scale services without a safety driver for the first time – which could be available to members of the public to book via an app – before a potential wider rollout when the Automated Vehicles Act is implemented in full from the second half of 2027.

    Bringing forward the pilots of self-driving vehicles will help the government deliver the Plan for Change by creating 38,000 jobs to put money in people’s pockets, driving investment to back British engineering excellence and unlocking an industry worth £42 billion by 2035.

    Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said:

    Self-driving vehicles are one of the most exciting opportunities to improve transport for so many people, especially those in rural areas or unable to drive. We want to work with passengers and industry to make this new form of transport safe and accessible, as we take our next steps towards adoption.

    This technology doesn’t just have the potential to improve transport for millions of people. It will help stimulate innovation, create thousands of jobs, and drive investment to put more money in people’s pockets – all part of delivering our Plan for Change.

    Through the consultation, representative groups, industry stakeholders, trade unions and members of the public will be able to make their views heard and influence future government policy over a variety of areas critical for self-driving vehicles to run safely and efficiently.

    These include:

    • how self-driving vehicles can be made as accessible as possible for disabled and older people
    • how services of self-driving vehicles are approved by councils
    • when a permit to operate a service should be varied, suspended or withdrawn

    Gavin Jackson, CEO of Oxa, said:

    As the first company to trial an autonomous vehicle on UK roads back in 2016, we are delighted to see the UK continuing to progress towards making automated vehicle services a commercial reality.

    The APS scheme will enable the deployment of innovative public transport services that will augment our current transport network, making it easier and more accessible than ever to get around.

    The APS scheme is an essential part of the of the Automated Vehicles Act, which will regulate taxi-, private-hire- and bus-like self-driving vehicles once it is implemented in full in the second half of 2027.

    The Automated Vehicles Act will require self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as competent and careful human drivers, and they will undergo rigorous safety tests before being allowed on our roads.

    Self-driving trials have been taking place in the UK since January 2015, with British companies Wayve and Oxa spearheading significant breakthroughs in the technology.

    The UK is already host to a thriving self-driving sector. Wayve secured a record-breaking investment of over $1 billion and announced recent partnerships with Nissan and Uber, while Oxa has already supported ‘bus-like’ services in the US and started rolling out self-driving vehicles at Heathrow Airport to improve baggage handling.

    Roads media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

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    Published 21 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Presidential Message on Space Exploration Day

    Source: US Whitehouse

    On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 successfully landed the first crewed mission on the Moon, launching mankind into a new and uncharted era of human ingenuity.  As the entire world watched in awe, American astronauts stepped onto the lunar surface and planted the beautiful Stars and Stripes on the rocky soil.  Our flag stood as a marker of National achievement, signaling to the entire world the unmatched might and unwavering resilience of the American spirit.

    Today, my Administration is building on the legacy of Apollo 11 by reigniting the United States’ leadership in space and shaping the future of American space exploration.  During my first term, I proudly reestablished the National Space Council and created the Space Force, making space policy a national priority and ensuring that our Nation’s interests are protected beyond Earth. 

    Through the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, we secured a historic investment in human space exploration to ensure that America’s efforts in the realm of space remain innovative, efficient, and unmatched by other nations.  We are refocusing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Artemis campaign returning Americans to the Moon—this time to stay—and putting the first boots on Mars.  At the same time, we are expanding partnerships with the greatest aerospace companies in the world to launch rockets, build landers, and deliver advanced technology that will drive a new and unparalleled era of space exploration.

    With our incredible Guardians in the U.S. Space Force protecting America’s interests in space, we are securing the systems that power exploration, defense, and communication.  We are building strength, expanding freedom, and ensuring that the American flag remains the ultimate symbol of leadership across the final frontier.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: RICH Miner innovatively launches XRP automated mining, allowing Ripple users to easily achieve continuous value-added

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, Ill, July 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RICH Miner has officially launched a new service, XRP automated mining solution, which allows Ripple (XRP) users to obtain stable passive income every day without any technical operations, just one click to participate.

    With this innovation, holders can not only steadily increase the value of their assets, but also achieve long-term value accumulation without frequent transactions.

    Why choose XRP to participate in cloud mining?

    As a crypto asset that focuses on efficient payment and low handling fees, XRP is widely used in cross-border settlement and enterprise-level payment. Using XRP to participate in cloud mining is not only convenient and low-cost, but also highly liquid and suitable for flexible asset allocation.

    Through the RICH Miner platform, XRP users do not need to understand the complex mining principles or purchase any equipment. They only need to recharge XRP, which can be automatically converted into an equivalent amount of Bitcoin computing power to start their daily income journey.

    RICH Miner XRP automation core advantages:

    1. True automation: no operation required, the system manages the entire process

    Users only need to transfer XRP to the platform account and purchase contracts, without configuring parameters, selecting mining pools or managing equipment, truly achieving “recharge is mining”.

    2. Daily settlement, stable and transparent income

    The platform calculates the Bitcoin (BTC) income generated by the user’s corresponding computing power on a daily basis, supports BTC, USDT or XRP in multiple forms, with fast arrival and transparent process.

    3. Safe and compliant, users hold with confidence

    The platform adopts a cold and hot wallet separation management mechanism to ensure asset security. At the same time, RICH Miner has actively responded to compliance requirements in many places around the world, allowing users to participate with confidence and hold for a long time.

    Four steps to start passive income:

    1. Register an account and complete authentication

    Visit richminer.com or download the official APP, and you can get $15 computing power after registration.

    2. Top up XRP

    Get your personal XRP address in the “Dashboard”, transfer it to the XRP system for automatic review and distribution to your account.

    3. Select a mining contract:

    Browse different XRP mining plans (short-term/long-term/high-yield plans), choose and confirm the purchase according to your personal preferences.

    (New User Experience Contract) Investment amount: $100; Term: 2 days; Daily income: $3; Total income: $100.00 + $6.

    (Canaan Avalon A15XP) Investment amount: $600; Term: 8 days; Daily income: $7.20; Total income: $500.00 + $57.60.

    (Bitdeer SealMiner A2) Investment amount: $1,300; Term: 13 days; Daily income: $17.30; Total income: $1,300.00 + $221.39.

    (Bitmain Antminer L7) Investment amount: $3,000; Term: 17 days; Daily income: $42.30; Total income: $3,000.00 + $719.10.

    (Bitmain Antminer S21 Immersive) Investment amount: $5,600; Term: 24 days; Daily income: $84.00; Total income: $5,600.00 + $2,016.00.

    (Bitmain Antminer L9) Investment amount: $12,000; Term: 32 days; Daily income: $204.00; Total income: $12,000.00 + $6,528.00.

    → Click here to view more contracts

    4. Enjoy daily benefits:

    After purchasing the contract, the system automatically calculates and distributes mining benefits every day, which can be withdrawn or reinvested at any time for continuous appreciation.

    Conclusion:

    The XRP automated mining service launched by RICH Miner is the perfect embodiment of this concept. Whether you are a long-term XRP investor or a novice user who wants to expand your passive income source in a low-risk way, you can easily start the road to sustained income through this service.

    RICH Miner helps you move from “holding” to “value-added”. Take action now and let every XRP release its potential value!

    Official website: https://richminer.com

    APP download: Support iOS / Android

    Customer service email: info@richminer.com

    New user benefits: Register to enjoy $15 experience reward

    Attachment

    • RICH Miner

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: RICH Miner innovatively launches XRP automated mining, allowing Ripple users to easily achieve continuous value-added

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, Ill, July 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RICH Miner has officially launched a new service, XRP automated mining solution, which allows Ripple (XRP) users to obtain stable passive income every day without any technical operations, just one click to participate.

    With this innovation, holders can not only steadily increase the value of their assets, but also achieve long-term value accumulation without frequent transactions.

    Why choose XRP to participate in cloud mining?

    As a crypto asset that focuses on efficient payment and low handling fees, XRP is widely used in cross-border settlement and enterprise-level payment. Using XRP to participate in cloud mining is not only convenient and low-cost, but also highly liquid and suitable for flexible asset allocation.

    Through the RICH Miner platform, XRP users do not need to understand the complex mining principles or purchase any equipment. They only need to recharge XRP, which can be automatically converted into an equivalent amount of Bitcoin computing power to start their daily income journey.

    RICH Miner XRP automation core advantages:

    1. True automation: no operation required, the system manages the entire process

    Users only need to transfer XRP to the platform account and purchase contracts, without configuring parameters, selecting mining pools or managing equipment, truly achieving “recharge is mining”.

    2. Daily settlement, stable and transparent income

    The platform calculates the Bitcoin (BTC) income generated by the user’s corresponding computing power on a daily basis, supports BTC, USDT or XRP in multiple forms, with fast arrival and transparent process.

    3. Safe and compliant, users hold with confidence

    The platform adopts a cold and hot wallet separation management mechanism to ensure asset security. At the same time, RICH Miner has actively responded to compliance requirements in many places around the world, allowing users to participate with confidence and hold for a long time.

    Four steps to start passive income:

    1. Register an account and complete authentication

    Visit richminer.com or download the official APP, and you can get $15 computing power after registration.

    2. Top up XRP

    Get your personal XRP address in the “Dashboard”, transfer it to the XRP system for automatic review and distribution to your account.

    3. Select a mining contract:

    Browse different XRP mining plans (short-term/long-term/high-yield plans), choose and confirm the purchase according to your personal preferences.

    (New User Experience Contract) Investment amount: $100; Term: 2 days; Daily income: $3; Total income: $100.00 + $6.

    (Canaan Avalon A15XP) Investment amount: $600; Term: 8 days; Daily income: $7.20; Total income: $500.00 + $57.60.

    (Bitdeer SealMiner A2) Investment amount: $1,300; Term: 13 days; Daily income: $17.30; Total income: $1,300.00 + $221.39.

    (Bitmain Antminer L7) Investment amount: $3,000; Term: 17 days; Daily income: $42.30; Total income: $3,000.00 + $719.10.

    (Bitmain Antminer S21 Immersive) Investment amount: $5,600; Term: 24 days; Daily income: $84.00; Total income: $5,600.00 + $2,016.00.

    (Bitmain Antminer L9) Investment amount: $12,000; Term: 32 days; Daily income: $204.00; Total income: $12,000.00 + $6,528.00.

    → Click here to view more contracts

    4. Enjoy daily benefits:

    After purchasing the contract, the system automatically calculates and distributes mining benefits every day, which can be withdrawn or reinvested at any time for continuous appreciation.

    Conclusion:

    The XRP automated mining service launched by RICH Miner is the perfect embodiment of this concept. Whether you are a long-term XRP investor or a novice user who wants to expand your passive income source in a low-risk way, you can easily start the road to sustained income through this service.

    RICH Miner helps you move from “holding” to “value-added”. Take action now and let every XRP release its potential value!

    Official website: https://richminer.com

    APP download: Support iOS / Android

    Customer service email: info@richminer.com

    New user benefits: Register to enjoy $15 experience reward

    Attachment

    • RICH Miner

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: New Prediction Emerges Around Elon Musk’s Next Big Move. Presentation Out Now. 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Austin, TX, July 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Could a private meeting featuring Elon Musk signal a major move for Starlink?

    According to a newly published briefing by bestselling author and entrepreneur James Altucher, the answer may be yes. The presentation outlines three overlooked clues—each pulled from publicly available sources—that Altucher believes are converging on August 13, 2025, as a potentially historic milestone.

    A Meeting That Sparked New Questions

    Altucher opens his briefing by citing a recent private gathering with Musk, and industry insiders.

    While details of the meeting have not been made public, Altucher suggests the takeaways coincide with a growing number of statements made by Musk and his executives in recent months.

    A Timeline That Can’t Be Ignored

    In his presentation, Altucher highlights August 13, 2025, as a key date to watch.

    “After this date, the window could slam shut—and you may never have this same chance again,” he writes.

    He calls it “the moment Elon’s been quietly preparing for—building toward it piece by piece over nearly two decades”.

    Altucher: ‘Pay Attention Before the World Catches Up’

    Altucher concludes the presentation with a call to awareness—not speculation.

    “You don’t need to be an expert in satellites or data to understand what’s happening here,” he writes. “You just need to see the signs and act while most people are still asleep”.

    “This is about recognizing a moment in history—before it becomes history,” he adds.

    About James Altucher

    James Altucher is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and tech commentator. He’s founded or co-founded more than 20 businesses, and his books—Choose Yourself, Reinvent Yourself, and Skip the Line—have sold over 1 million copies worldwide. Altucher’s work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Forbes, and Business Insider. He’s also been featured on CNBC, Fox Business, and other major media outlets. Through his podcast and daily newsletter, Altucher helps readers stay ahead of cultural and technological trends.

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The 3rd China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo concludes in Beijing

    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

    BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) — The 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) concluded Sunday in Beijing. As announced at the closing press conference, this year’s expo attracted 1,200 enterprises and organizations from China and abroad, establishing business relationships with 42,000 enterprises from upstream and downstream supply chains. According to partial data, more than 6,000 cooperation agreements or cooperation intent agreements were signed on the spot.

    Li Xingqian, deputy head of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), said that politicians from many countries, more than 40 heads of Fortune Global 500 multinational companies, and high-ranking representatives of international organizations came specifically to the exhibition. The number of foreign delegations reached 172, which is 2.2 times more than the previous CISCE. The total number of online and offline visitors was more than 210,000, exceeding the previous figure by 5%. The exhibition hosted 70 different forums and events.

    According to data from three CISCEs, the proportion of overseas participants has been growing each time and was 26%, 32% and 35%, respectively, at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd CISCEs. At the same time, more than 65% of overseas exhibitors are Fortune Global 500 companies and leading industry enterprises. The geography of participants has expanded from 55 countries and regions at the first exhibition to 75 at the current one. –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 –

    July 21, 2025
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