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Category: CTF

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Lee Introduce OFF Act to Protect Farmers, Cut Government Waste

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Lee (R-UT) ) reintroduced the bipartisan Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act today to protect agricultural producers and cut government waste by making needed reforms to federal checkoff programs. Senators and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) cosponsored the legislation.

    “America’s farmers and ranchers deserve accountability and transparency when it comes to how their checkoff dollars are being spent,” said Senator Booker. “Checkoff dollars too often get channeled to lobbying groups who advocate against the best interests of many of the farmers who are required to pay into the program. This bipartisan bill will prohibit conflicts of interest and anti-competitive practices in these checkoff programs and will ensure that these programs work better for our farmers and ranchers.”

    “America’s farmers are being ripped off by federal checkoff programs that take farmers’ money and play favorites with who they serve,” said Senator Lee. “These programs have a reputation for hurting farmers through financial fraud and deceptive practices. The OFF Act will implement accountability measures to cut waste, enforce transparency, and ensure that our farmers get the services they pay for.”

    “We must change the agricultural checkoff programs that put money in the hands of corporate lobbyists at the expense of farmers and ranchers,” said Senator Warren. “The OFF Act will put commonsense safeguards in place to ensure accountability and transparency for our farmers.”

    The OFF Act is endorsed by organizations representing over 200,000 American farmers and ranchers.

    “We commend Senators Booker and Lee for their important work on fighting for fairness in the Beef Checkoff,” said United States Cattlemen’s Association President Justin Tupper. “USCA looks forward to this bill preserving the original intent of the Checkoff and implementing more transparency and accountability. The Checkoff must work for cattle producers who both support and benefit from it.”

    “America’s farmers and ranchers are fed up with their hard-earned money landing in the hands of corporate lobbyists,” said Farm Action Fund President and Missouri farmer Joe Maxwell. “We face enough hurdles as it is; the last thing we need is our own dollars extracted against our will and then used to illegally lobby on behalf of the largest corporations that are already squeezing us out of the market. It’s the USDA’s job to prevent this abuse, and they continue to fail us. The OFF Act’s common-sense reforms would ensure USDA performs stringent oversight so that farmers know exactly where their money is going.”

    “We are grateful to Senator Lee and Senator Booker for their work to bring accountability and transparency to the beef checkoff program and to recognize that the cattle and beef production systems in the USA are not one size fits all,” said Carrie Balkcom, Executive Director, American Grassfed Association. “The OFF act will allow cattle and beef producers of all production methods to be served by the dollars that they pay into the system.”

    “We applaud this bipartisan bill introduced by Senator Booker and Senator Lee to bring needed transparency and accountability to the antiquated beef checkoff program that has long been used to undermine the interests of America’s independent cattle producers,” said Bill Bullard, CEO, R-CALF USA.

    “We applaud the Members of Congress for their longterm leadership and for introducing the bipartisan, bicameral OFF Act and call on both the House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders to stand up for American family farmers by moving this legislation swiftly through their committees,” said Taylor Haynes, President of the Organization for Competitive Markets. “If we’re going to be forced to pay into USDA’s checkoff programs then the very least we should expect is transparency, accountability, and oversight of our hard-earned dollars, and the OFF Act accomplishes just that.”

    “Scandal after scandal has proven the longterm corruption in the beef, dairy, and pork checkoff programs that continue to utilize our own tax dollars against us and the day of reckoning is here,” said Mike Schultz, Founder of the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association and Vice-President at the Organization for Competitive Markets. “American family farmers are up in arms and are determined to see justice in the 119th Congress with the enactment of the OFF Act. Clean up decades of corruption.” 

    Background:

    Under checkoff programs, farmers are required to make payments into the programs which are meant to increase demand for their products through marketing and research. Slogans like “Got Milk?” and “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner,” are the result of checkoff program marketing campaigns that allowed agricultural producers to access large-scale advertising by promoting their product categories as a whole without individual branding. These campaigns are directed by multiple boards and are funded with the checkoff dollars collected from farmers.

    Unfortunately, some checkoff programs have exhibited fraudulent and unethical behavior. One investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that a subcontractor organization had used checkoff program funding to award its employees unauthorized bonuses totaling approximately $302,000 – then requested further funds to remedy its poor financial situation. More recent audits reveal the USDA’s oversight of checkoff programs still needs improvement.

    The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act would:

    • Prohibit checkoff boards with an annual assessment revenue of over $20 million from entering into contracts to carry out checkoff activities with parties that lobby to influence government agriculture policy.
      • Exempt institutions of higher education.
    • Prohibit board members and employees of checkoff programs from engaging in any act that may involve a conflict of interest.
    • Prohibit engagement in anticompetitive activity, deceptive practices, or the disparaging of other commodities.
    • Require that contracts entered into by the board be recorded to describe goods and services provided/costs incurred.
    • Require checkoff boards to publicize a transparent budget.
    • Require periodic audits of checkoff boards by the Inspector General of USDA.
    • Require periodic audits of checkoff boards by the Comptroller General.

    To read the full text of the bill, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: GEN Brunson: We are committed to maintaining the momentum of trilateral security cooperation

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    TOKYO, Japan — Gen. Xavier T. Brunson, commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea, met with Gen. Ken-ichiro Nagumo, commander of the Japanese Joint Operations Command, May 20, during a visit to Japan to discuss trilateral defense cooperation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Half the remaining habitat of Australia’s most at-risk species is outside protected areas

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Ward, Lecturer, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University

    Land clearing for agriculture poses a real threat to many species. Rich Carey/Shutterstock

    More and more Australian species are being listed as critically endangered – the final stage before extinction in the wild. Hundreds of species of plants and animals are now at this point.

    For a species to be critically endangered, it is on death’s door. Its numbers must have shrunk alarmingly and its outlook is bleak. Why? One common reason is habitat loss. If we convert bushland or swamps into farmland or suburbs, we reduce how much space species have to survive.

    Our new research examines how much habitat is left for 305 of Australia’s critically endangered species – more than 70% of the total. Alarmingly, we found almost half the remaining habitat is outside the protected area estate. That means the last remaining areas where these species are clinging on could very easily be cleared.

    The good news? We now know exactly which areas most need to be safeguarded. If we protected an extra 0.5% of Australia’s land mass, we could slash the risk to hundreds of species approaching the point of no return. This is a relatively small amount compared to the 22.5% of Australia that already has some form of protection. The Australian government has committed to increasing this to 30% by 2030.

    What did we do?

    Australia now has 426 critically endangered species, including plants, fish, frogs, reptiles, mammals, birds and other animals. We focused on 305 of these species – those clinging to life in six or fewer isolated patches of habitat across Australia.

    We then worked with 18 scientists whose expertise covers these 305 species to refine the maps of habitat for species to ensure we used the most accurate and current data available.

    Once we had these maps, we compared them to maps of Australia’s network of protected areas. When we found unprotected habitat, we assessed whether it might be appealing for clearing and conversion into farmland.

    When we put this data together, we found something startling – and encouraging. Our work found approximately 85,000 square kilometres of habitat (about 1% of Australia’s land area) urgently needs protection and management to halt extinction for these 305 species.

    This map shows Australia’s existing protected areas in green. Suitable but unprotected habitat for our critically endangered species are coloured from dark blue through to yellow. The lighter the colour, the more species this habitat is suited to. Islands not to scale.
    Michelle Ward, CC BY-NC-ND

    Alarmingly, half of this vital habitat currently lies outside existing protected areas, with 39 species having none of their remaining habitat in the protected area estate. Habitat in protected areas is safer, but not completely safe. Fuel reduction burns, invasive species and even harvesting can affect species inside protected areas.

    Consider the Margaret River burrowing crayfish (Engaewa pseudoreducta), Lyon’s grassland striped skink (Austroablepharus barrylyoni) and the Rosewood keeled snail (Ordtrachia septentrionalis). Each of these critically endangered species survives in one or two tiny patches of habitat outside the protected area estate. They could be wiped out by something as simple as a highway expansion or a new suburban development.

    Some remaining habitat is especially precious, as it could support several critically endangered species at once. These include areas west of Atherton in Queensland as well as areas around Tumbarumba in New South Wales and Campbell Town in Tasmania.

    Other hotspots include Lord Howe Island, Macquarie Island, Christmas Island, Norfolk Island and its neighbour Phillip Island. Many critically endangered species with small ranges survive here, including Suter’s striped glass-snail, Christmas Island spleenwort and the Lord Howe Island phasmid (giant stick insect). While most of these islands are well protected, their conservation programs need to be well funded to deal with ongoing threats.

    The critically endangered Lyon’s grassland striped skink is now found only on small fragments of habitat southwest of Cairns.
    Conrad Hoskin, CC BY-NC-ND

    The last of them

    When a species goes extinct, we lose an entire set of genes, traits, behaviours and history. Despite recent headlines, extinction is forever.

    In 2022, the Australian government pledged to bring an end to extinction of the continent’s unique species.

    This is easier said than done – extinctions are continuing, especially among invertebrates.

    Our maps show the last known areas where these 305 species are holding on. If nothing is done, some of these areas of habitat will likely be converted to farming or grazing land. The most logical thing to do is to preserve and manage this habitat as quickly as possible.

    The challenge is ownership. At present, much of this habitat occurs on private land (about 17,000 km²) or in state forests (about 7,000 km²) which often does not stop activities that cause habitat destruction, such as native forest logging. Other areas are under different forms of tenure which often lack stringent conservation measures.

    Protecting species on private lands requires careful negotiation and incentives for landholders. The government doesn’t have to buy the land – it just has to find ways to conserve it. Australia now has many good examples of conservation on private land.

    Agricultural potential poses another challenge. More than half (55%) of the habitat we identified has a clear overlap with lands suitable for farming or grazing. These preferred areas are usually flat and on fertile soils.

    Conversion of habitat to farms or paddocks is a major reason why Australia is still one of the top land-clearing nations. In just one year, 6,800 km² of woody vegetation was cleared in Queensland – largely to make way for agriculture.

    What can we do?

    Our research gives policymakers detailed, geographically specific and actionable information on vital areas of habitat remaining for more than 70% of Australia’s critically endangered species.

    These maps can help shape decisions on land management, expansion of protected areas and where biodiversity stewardship programs should be prioritised.

    Policymakers must find effective incentives for landowners to preserve species on their land and rigorously enforce regulations to prevent illegal clearing.

    Australia stands at a crossroads. The action (or inaction) of decision makers will change the fate of hundreds of critically endangered species. We know where these species are just holding on. The question is whether we can get to them in time.

    Michelle Ward has received funding from various sources including the Australian Research Council, the Queensland Department of Environment and Science, WWF Australia, and the federal government’s National Environmental Science Program, and has advised both state and federal government on conservation policy.

    James Watson has received funding from the Australian Research Council, National Environmental Science Program, South Australia’s Department of Environment and Water, Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation as well as from Bush Heritage Australia, Queensland Conservation Council, Australian Conservation Foundation, The Wilderness Society and Birdlife Australia. He serves on the scientific committee of BirdLife Australia and has a long-term scientific relationship with Bush Heritage Australia and Wildlife Conservation Society. He serves on the Queensland government’s Land Restoration Fund’s Investment Panel as the Deputy Chair.

    – ref. Half the remaining habitat of Australia’s most at-risk species is outside protected areas – https://theconversation.com/half-the-remaining-habitat-of-australias-most-at-risk-species-is-outside-protected-areas-256818

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 23, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 23, 2025.

    Half the remaining habitat of Australia’s most at-risk species is outside protected areas
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Ward, Lecturer, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Land clearing for agriculture poses a real threat to many species. Rich Carey/Shutterstock More and more Australian species are being listed as critically endangered – the final stage before extinction in the wild. Hundreds of species of

    How should central banks respond to US tariffs? The RBA provides some clues
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stella Huangfu, Associate professor, University of Sydney Lightspring/Shutterstock With the return of Donald Trump to the White House, the United States has signalled a return to aggressive tariff policies, upending economic forecasts around the world. This leaves central banks with a tricky dilemma: how to respond when

    Vivid, thrilling and ghastly: new theatrical adaptation of The Birds evokes climate disaster, terrorism and lockdown
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Austin, Senior Lecturer in Theatre, The University of Melbourne Pia Johnson/Malthouse Theatre Malthouse’s new production of The Birds is a thrillingly realised take on the 1952 short story by Daphne Du Maurier. Adapted by Louise Fox and directed by Matthew Lutton, this vivid realisation is a

    Air New Zealand to resume Auckland-Nouméa flights from November
    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Air New Zealand has announced it plans to resume its Auckland-Nouméa flights from November, almost one and a half years after deadly civil unrest broke out in the French Pacific territory. “Air New Zealand is resuming its Auckland-Nouméa service starting 1 November 2025. Initially, flights will

    Budget 2025: Pacific Ministry faces major cuts, yet new initiatives aim for development
    By ‘Alakihihifo Vailala of PMN News Funding for New Zealand’s Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) is set to be reduced by almost $36 million in Budget 2025. This follows a cut of nearly $26 million in the 2024 budget. As part of these budgetary savings, the Tauola Business Fund will be closed. But, $6.3 million

    Air New Zealand to resume Auckland-Nouméa flights from November
    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Air New Zealand has announced it plans to resume its Auckland-Nouméa flights from November, almost one and a half years after deadly civil unrest broke out in the French Pacific territory. “Air New Zealand is resuming its Auckland-Nouméa service starting 1 November 2025. Initially, flights will

    Budget 2025: Pacific Ministry faces major cuts, yet new initiatives aim for development
    By ‘Alakihihifo Vailala of PMN News Funding for New Zealand’s Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) is set to be reduced by almost $36 million in Budget 2025. This follows a cut of nearly $26 million in the 2024 budget. As part of these budgetary savings, the Tauola Business Fund will be closed. But, $6.3 million

    Why Donald Trump has put Asia on the precipice of a nuclear arms race
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Langford, Executive Director, Security & Defence PLuS and Professor, UNSW Sydney For the past 75 years, America’s nuclear umbrella has been the keystone that has kept East Asia’s great‑power rivalries from turning atomic. President Donald Trump’s second‑term “strategic reset” now threatens to crack that arch. By

    Corroboree 2000, 25 years on: the march for Indigenous reconciliation has left a complicated legacy
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Heidi Norman, Professor of Aboriginal political history, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, Convenor: Indigenous Land & Justice Research Group, UNSW Sydney First Nations people please be advised this article speaks of racially discriminating moments in history, including the distress and death of First Nations people. On

    KiwiSaver at a crossroads: budget another missed opportunity to fix NZ’s underperforming retirement scheme
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aaron Gilbert, Professor of Finance, Auckland University of Technology Lynn Grieveson/Getty Images When KiwiSaver was introduced in 2007 it was built on a stark reality: New Zealand Super alone will not be enough for most people to retire with dignity. As the population ages and the cost

    Deaf President Now! traces the powerful uprising that led to Deaf rights in the US – now again under threat
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gemma King, ARC DECRA Fellow in Screen Studies, Senior Lecturer in French Studies, Australian National University Archival footage shows Tim Rarus, Greg Hlibok, Bridgetta Bourne-Firl and Jerry Covell, in Apple TV+ Deaf President Now! Apple TV+ In March 1988, students of the world’s only Deaf university started

    Head knocks and ultra-violence: viral games Run It Straight and Power Slap put sports safety back centuries
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Yorke, Lecturer in sport management, Western Sydney University runitstraight24/instagram.com, The Conversation, CC BY Created in Australia, “Run It Straight” is a new, ultra-violent combat sport. Across a 20×4 metre grassed “battlefield,” players charge at full speed toward one another. Alternating between carrying the ball (ball runner)

    NZ Budget 2025: funding growth at the expense of pay equity for women could cost National in the long run
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Curtin, Professor of Politics and Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Pay equity protest outside parliament on budget day, May 22 2025. Getty Images In 1936, when the National Party was created through a merger of the United and Reform parties, there was a recognition

    Australian roads are getting deadlier – pedestrians and males are among those at greater risk
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne At least ten people died in fatal crashes earlier this month in a single 48-hour period on Victorian roads. It was the latest tragic demonstration of the mounting road trauma in

    There is a growing number of ‘super-sized’ schools. Does the number of students matter?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Rowe, Associate Professor in Education, Deakin University LBeddoe/Shutterstock Earlier this week, The Sydney Morning Herald reported one of Sydney’s top public high schools had more than 2,000 students for the first time, thanks to the booming population in the area. This follows similar reports of other

    From peasant fodder to posh fare: how snails and oysters became luxury foods
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Garritt C. Van Dyk, Senior Lecturer in History, University of Waikato An Oyster cellar in Leith John Burnet, 1819; National Galleries of Scotland, Photo: Antonia Reeve Oysters and escargot are recognised as luxury foods around the world – but they were once valued by the lower classes

    Govt should defuse NZ’s social timebomb – but won’t
    We have been handed a long and protracted recession with few signs of growth and prosperity. Budget 2025 signals more of the same, writes Susan St John. ANALYSIS: By Susan St John With the coalition government’s second Budget being unveiled, we should question where New Zealand is heading. The 2024 Budget laid out the strategy.

    Punitive criminal libel charge against Samoan journalist draws flurry of criticism
    Pacific Media Watch A punitive defamation charge filed against one of Samoa’s most experienced and trusted journalists last week has sparked a flurry of criticism over abuse of power and misuse of a law that has long been heavily criticised as outdated. Talamua Online senior journalist Lagi Keresoma, who is also president of the Journalists

    Grattan on Friday: if Ley and Littleproud find a way to cohabit, it will be a tense household
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Remember that cliche about the Nationals tail wagging the Liberal dog? That tail wagged very vigorously this week, and smashed a lot of crockery, as it sought to bring Liberal leader Sussan Ley to heel. In a gesture of overreach,

    Legal academic says Samoa’s criminal libel law should go after charge
    By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Auckland University law academic says Samoa’s criminal libel law under which a prominent journalist has been charged should be repealed. Lagi Keresoma, the first female president of the Journalists Association of Samoa (JAWS) and editor of Talamua Online, was charged under the Crimes Act 2013 on Sunday

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Blue Ridge Arrives in Wellington, New Zealand for the First Time

    Source: United States Navy

    WELLINGTON, New Zealand — U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) arrived in Wellington, New Zealand for a port visit, May 16, 2025. This historic arrival marks the first time Blue Ridge has visited New Zealand as well as its capital city. The last two U.S Navy ships to visit Wellington were USS Howard (DDG 83) in 2021 and USS Sampson (DDG 102) in 2016.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Observes National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

    Source: United States Department of Justice

    In recognition of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the Department of Justice today reaffirms its commitment to prosecuting perpetrators of human trafficking, protecting vulnerable victims, supporting survivors, and preventing the proliferation of these horrific crimes.

    Combating human trafficking and vindicating the rights of trafficking victims are among the Department’s highest priorities, and we remain relentless in our pursuit of justice for survivors.

    The Department of Justice remains steadfast in its commitment to bringing human traffickers to justice, dismantling human trafficking enterprises, and protecting human trafficking survivors.

    Human Trafficking Prevention Month serves as an annual reminder of the importance of the fight against the abhorrent crime of human trafficking, but the Justice Department’s work continues every day of the year to combat this vicious crime, bring human traffickers to justice, and protect those at risk of falling prey to these unconscionable crimes of cruelty, exploitation, and greed.

    Since passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, nearly a quarter of a century ago, the Department of Justice has served on the front lines of our nation’s fight against human trafficking in all its forms.

    Today, we commemorate National Human Trafficking Prevention Month by redoubling our commitment to continue that fight.

    Anyone who has information about a potential human trafficking situation or a person who may be experiencing human trafficking should contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.

    Information on the Justice Department’s work to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Announcement on Open Market Operations No.97 [2025]

    Source: Peoples Bank of China

    Announcement on Open Market Operations No.97 [2025]

    (Open Market Operations Office, May 23, 2025)

    The People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB142.5 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on May 23, 2025.

    Details of the Reverse Repo Operations

    Maturity

    Rate

    Bidding Volume

    Winning Bid Volume

    7 days

    1.40%

    RMB142.5 billion

    RMB142.5 billion

    Date of last update Nov. 29 2018

    2025年05月23日

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Yokota Airmen showcase readiness, resolve to honor fallen service members before Memorial Day Weekend

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    JAPAN — U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 374th Airlift Wing came together for a wing run and open ranks inspection at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 22, to honor fallen service members before Memorial Day Weekend. The events were also conducted as part of a wing-wide initiative aimed at strengthening discipline and maintaining readiness while reinforcing dress and appearance standards.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray, Cantwell, Padilla, Schiff Slam Trump’s Outrageous, Partisan Decision to Slash Flood Prevention Funding for Blue States

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Work plan released by Army Corps zeroes out hundreds of millions of dollars for key WA, CA waterway construction projects, among others—steering hundreds of millions to red states
    ***WATCH: WA, CA Senators hold press conference calling out Trump’s decision*** 
    Washington, D.C. — Today, the Senate delegations from Washington state and California joined together to call out President Trump’s outrageous, nakedly-political decision to zero out critical funding for Army Corps of Engineers construction projects in blue states like Washington and California while steering hundreds of millions more to red states.
    U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) blasted the Trump administration’s plans, released late last week, detailing how the Army Corps intends to zero out all Army Corps construction funding for the state of California, as well as $500 million for the Howard Hanson Dam in Washington state. California was set to receive well over $100 million in funding for projects, and the Howard Hanson Dam in Washington state was set to receive $500 million—in the Corps’ fiscal year 2025 budget request, in the Senate’s bipartisan draft fiscal year 2025 funding bill, and even in House Republicans’ draft fiscal year 2025 funding bill. But the Trump administration—using the new discretion afforded by the yearlong CR House Republicans drafted that was signed into law—ignored the draft bills and instead apportioned funding on a nakedly political basis.
    On Tuesday, a top Army Corps official testifying before the House failed to provide any justification for the decision and noted that the ultimate decision rested with Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), headed by Russ Vought.
    “We are here for a simple reason: Trump is robbing our states in broad daylight, and we are not going to be quiet about this,” said Senator Murray. “Last year, we worked across the aisle to hammer out a bipartisan understanding about what projects needed Army Corps construction funding. But President Trump is ripping up the roadmap we all agreed on—even House Republicans— and turning the Army Corps construction fund into his personal political slush fund. I don’t know how you get more obviously partisan than cutting California, the most populous state in the country, out of Army Corps construction funding entirely, and I just don’t know how you get more blatantly corrupt than zeroing out half a billion dollars for Washington state and completely shafting major work at the Howard Hanson Dam—work to address dam safety, water supply issues, and more.”
    “The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma received $45.4 million less in this budget,” said Senator Cantwell. “This is a huge problem for the next five years. We want to stabilize our ports. We want the Army Corps to do their investment on important waterway issues. We want to grow economic opportunity at an age when the Pacific economy is continuing to grow. We want to be on the doorstep of that access and to be efficient about delivering it, not giving those jobs away to Canada and Mexico.”
    “When anyone takes the oath of office, even Donald Trump as President of the United States, you become the president for all Americans — not just for red states or for blue states, but for every state and every community equally,” said Senator Padilla. “Yet, since the minute Donald Trump returned to office, he’s set out to politicize the office he holds, now trying to take hundreds of millions of dollars in flood prevention funding away from the states that happened to not vote for him and redirect them to projects in states that supported his election. It’s absolutely wrong. In California, that means cutting every last dollar of funding that was allocated for certain flood control projects. For a president so obsessed with fighting waste, fraud, and abuse, I know where he can find it. He just has to look in the mirror. Communities up and down California — including farmers and farm workers in the Central Valley and Pajaro — will now be at a higher risk of flooding because Donald Trump’s playing politics with federal funding.”
    “Natural disasters don’t discriminate based on whether a state is red or blue, and the administration and Congress shouldn’t either when it comes to protecting communities from natural disasters. This puts us on a very dangerous path, a path where anything can be on the chopping block for a partisan reason,” said Senator Schiff. “Today, it’s funding for these projects. Tomorrow, it could be another form of funding meant to save lives. There will be a domino effect of threats aimed at blue states. When you’re elected to be president of the United States, you’re not a half president. You’re not president for only half of the country, not if you do the job right. These baseless attacks threaten millions of people from both parties whose lives are endangered by floods.”
    Overall, the Army Corps’ plan would steer roughly $258 million dollars more in construction funding to red states while ripping away roughly $437 million dollars in construction funding for blue states, relative to the fiscal year 2025 request—which, historically, has been fully funded and was fully funded in the draft fiscal year 2025 bills produced on a bipartisan basis in the Senate and by House Republicans in the House. Trump’s work plan steers two-thirds of all Army Corps construction funding to red states while the budget request and House and Senate bills would have split that funding roughly evenly to red and blue states.
    Supporting the Howard Hanson Dam has been a longtime priority for Senator Murray, and she has pressed the Army Corps to prioritize funding for the Dam for years. Under the last administration, Senator Murray was able to secure critical funding boosts for Howard Hanson Dam, including $220 million in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $50 million to begin construction of a new facility in the funding bills for fiscal year 2024 that Murray wrote as then-Chair of the Appropriations Committee. Back in 2010, Murray secured $44 million in badly needed emergency funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the Howard Hanson Dam. In the draft fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill she cleared unanimously out of Committee last year, Senator Murray secured $500 million for the dam, which would support fish passage and address dam safety and water supply issues for cities like Tacoma and Covington. $500 million was also included in the House’s draft fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill. The funding is needed to execute a construction option on the contract for the project, which would have allowed construction to begin in 2026 as scheduled.
    Congress typically provides specific, detailed instructions in its annual appropriations bills on how the Army Corps (and so many other agencies) must spend funding provided by Congress. Annual appropriations bills note exactly what Army Corps projects must be funded and at what levels. But instead of working with Democrats to pass full-year appropriations bills that deliver for communities across America, Republicans in Congress put forth a yearlong continuing resolution (CR) that failed to include hundreds of specific directives on how funding must be spent. For months, Senator Murray warned of the dangers of passing Republicans’ slush fund CR, noting, for example, that it would allow the administration to zero out funding for Army Corps projects. 
    Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
    “We are here for a simple reason: Trump is robbing our states in broad daylight, and we are not going to be quiet about this.
    “We are not going to stop fighting for our communities, and we are going to make every single person understand what is happening—and what it means for our states, for our communities, and for this democracy.
    “Last year, we worked across the aisle to hammer out a bipartisan understanding about what projects needed Army Corps construction funding. And ‘we’—isn’t just the four of us here. It includes our Republican counterparts and even our House colleagues.
    “But President Trump is ripping up the roadmap we all agreed on—even the House Republicans—and turning the Army Corps construction funds into his personal political slush fund.
    “To give you a sense of how blatantly political this is, consider the fact that the Corps’ budget request last year, the bipartisan Senate bill my committee passed unanimously, and the House bill—yes the Republican House bill—all split this funding just about evenly—every one of them split it just about 50-50 between red and blue states.
    “Now compare that to Trump’s partisan takeover. This thing is totally lopsided—roughly two-thirds goes to red states and one-third for blue states.
    “This is not how it should work—an out-of-control Republican president punishing blue states and rewarding his friends instead.
    “I don’t know how you get more obviously partisan than cutting California, the most populous state in the country, out of Army Corps construction funding entirely. Trump slashed over $100 million for projects that reduce flooding for crying out loud! I mean who is pro-flooding?
    “And I just don’t know how you get more blatantly corrupt than zeroing out half a billion dollars for Washington state and completely shifting major work at the Howard Hanson Dam—work to address dam safety, water supply issues, and more. 
    “This is a project years in the making, and it is being slashed at the stroke of one careless pen, at the will of one corrupt President alone.
    “So why does President Trump think our constituents don’t need a safe water supply?
    “Why does President Trump think our constituents don’t need to be protected from floods?
    “It’s clear he simply doesn’t care.
    “But it’s actually worse than what I just laid out—because Trump is not just taking hundreds of millions of dollars from blue states for projects that we all agreed on. He is actually shoveling this money to projects that were not funded by either bill in either chambers—and that is nakedly political.
    “Suddenly, projects in or near his allies’ districts are funded.
    “So we need answers. And more than that, we need accountability.
    “Yesterday, a top Army Corps official testified before the House, and let me tell you: she had absolutely no acceptable—or even half-convincing—justification for these decisions.
    “In fact, she very explicitly stated that OMB—not the experts at the Corps—called the final shots.
    “That should raise everyone’s eyebrows—Russ Vought calling the shots for your constituents.
    “So we’re here to call this out—and we are going to fight tooth and nail to make this right, and make these critical projects whole.
    “I will tell you right now: I will not let defunding Howard Hanson Dam stand in any future bipartisan spending bill.
    “And, I will continue warning my colleagues about passing another partisan CR, which gave this administration that power to pick winners and losers like this in the first place.
    “I warned about exactly this before I voted against the CR—I warned that Trump could, and would, abuse the discretion in a slush fund
    CR to rob our communities. And now, here we are.
    “So every single member needs to pay close attention to what is happening here—and needs to speak out.
    “Because it may not be your state today but what happens when your governor disagrees with the President? What happens when you vote against him and your state loses out on funding?
    “Take my word—you don’t want to find out. We have to put a stop to this, and push back now.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: High school drama festival marks WWII victory anniversary

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

    Students at Beijing’s No. 5 High School staged nine performances commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War during the school’s 23rd annual drama festival on May 16.

    Students perform “The Eternal Wave” during a high school drama festival in Beijing, May 16, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

    Vice Principal Chen Ying said around 400 teachers and students from the school’s second-year classes worked on the productions from March to May under the theme “remembering history,” with nearly a third of students taking acting roles.

    Since its first edition in 2002, the festival has grown to combine literature, stagecraft and other disciplines, helping students develop artistic skills while strengthening cultural identity through classic works, Chen said. The school uses theater to expand students’ cultural understanding.

    The festival featured nine thematically diverse productions. Works ranged from Lao She’s stories of ordinary lives to depictions of anti-fascist resistance. “Four Generations Under One Roof” portrayed civilian resilience under occupation. “Nanjing Memorial” honored women defying Japanese brutality. “The Message” depicted wartime espionage. “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” adapted from Soviet literature, connected with the Chinese classic “The Eternal Wave” to show the global anti-fascist struggle.

    Students perform “The Dawns Here Are Quiet” during a high school drama festival in Beijing, May 16, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

    Student performers reflected on sacrifice and bravery during dark times. Through rehearsals and performances, they deepened their understanding of heroes and said theater transported them to that brutal era, making them appreciate today’s peace.

    Chen said students’ experiences revealed the educational value of the high school drama festival.

    “When students use critical thinking to explore history and examine contemporary issues through performance, theater transcends entertainment,” Chen said. “It becomes a vessel that awakens collective memory and fosters national identity.”

    Beijing No. 5 High School is one of the city’s leading academic institutions, ranking among the city’s top high schools.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Britain signs deal to transfer Chagos Islands to Mauritius

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

    British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday signed an agreement transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

    The deal formally cedes British control of the Chagos Archipelago to the Mauritian government. Under the terms of the agreement, Mauritius will lease the Diego Garcia military base — located within the archipelago — back to Britain and the United States.

    Starmer said the full rationale behind the decision remains “highly classified.” He noted that failure to reach a settlement could have led Mauritius to pursue legal action at international courts, where Britain was likely to lose, potentially facing additional penalties.

    The signing proceeded after a temporary injunction issued by the British High Court early Thursday was lifted later in the day.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the agreement in a social media post, describing it as “a historic deal.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US stocks close mixed as Trump’s tax bill passes House

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

    U.S. stocks finished little changed on Thursday, as investors digested the House of Representatives’s narrow passage of U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax legislation and its potential impact on the nation’s growing debt.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 1.35 points, or 0.00 percent, to 41,859.09. The S&P 500 sank 2.60 points, or 0.04 percent, to 5,842.01. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 53.09 points, or 0.28 percent, to 18,925.74.

    Eight of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with utilities and health leading the laggards by losing 1.41 percent and 0.76 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, consumer discretionary and communication services led the gainers by going up 0.56 percent and 0.32 percent, respectively.

    The bill — referred to by Trump as a “big, beautiful bill” — is projected by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office to add approximately 3.8 trillion U.S. dollars to the current 36.2 trillion dollars of national debt over the next ten years if enacted.

    “It seems pretty clear that, in its present form, the legislation is certainly not going to improve the budget deficit and could make it substantially worse,” said Steve Sosnick, chief market analyst at Interactive Brokers.

    Bond markets, which have been in sharp focus following Moody’s recent U.S. credit downgrade, saw some relief. After several days of climbing, longer-term U.S. Treasury yields retreated slightly. The 30-year yield slipped just below 5.1 percent, pulling back from levels last seen during the financial crisis, while the 10-year benchmark yield dropped to around 4.55 percent.

    Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller suggested in an interview with Fox Business that rate cuts could be considered if Trump’s tariff policies end up being less severe than feared. “If we can get the tariffs down close to the 10 percent and then that’s all sealed, done and delivered somewhere by July, then we’re in good shape for the second half of the year, and then we’re in a good position to kind of move with rate cuts through the second half of the year,” Waller said.

    On the economic front, U.S. output rebounded in May as businesses adjusted to the recent tariff rollback. According to S&P Global, the flash composite Purchasing Managers’ Index — which measures activity across both the manufacturing and services sectors — rose to 52.1 in May, up from 50.6 in April, indicating a modest expansion.

    However, labor market data pointed to some softness. The weekly jobless claims report showed that 1.9 million Americans were continuing to receive unemployment benefits. The four-week moving average of continuing claims hit its highest level since November 2021, suggesting increased strain in the job market.

    Market expectations, based on data from LSEG, now reflect the likelihood of at least two 25-basis-point interest rate cuts by the end of the year, as investors continue to monitor economic momentum and fiscal developments. Enditem

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Nagelsmann names Germany Nations League Finals squad

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

    The notion of free choice can be an elusive ideal for national football coaches, and Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann may be feeling that reality more than ever ahead of the 2025 UEFA Nations League Final Four.

    Germany will face 2019 Nations League champion Portugal in the semifinal on June 4 in Munich, but the buildup has been marred by a string of absences.

    Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala, Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger, Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck, Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller, Arsenal’s Kai Havertz and Gladbach’s Tim Kleindienst are all sidelined.

    There is some positive news with the return of Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz.

    New call-ups Tim Bischof (Hoffenheim) and Nick Woltemade (Stuttgart) join returning players Serge Gnabry (Bayern), Robin Gosens (Fiorentina) and West Ham striker Niklas Fullkrug.

    Spain and France will meet in the second semifinal in Stuttgart.

    “Portugal is a strong side, and we will have to invest everything to proceed to the final. That’s our desire, to go all in and reach the final,” Nagelsmann said.

    The coach emphasized the importance of considering the health and long-term readiness of players. “They must be in the best shape when entering the upcoming season,” the 37-year-old said.

    Bayern had requested that Musiala be given a rest ahead of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, and Nagelsmann agreed. Whether players like Gnabry, Gosens, Waldemar Anton (Dortmund) and Robert Andrich (Leverkusen) are pleased with their recalls remains to be seen.

    Ter Stegen and Fullkrug are among the biggest surprises, having recently returned from long injury layoffs. Rudiger, meanwhile, is preparing for the Club World Cup after recovering from his own injury.

    “Mark is our undisputed No. 1. He lately played two games for his club, and Hansi Flick told me he is back to a top level,” Nagelsmann said.

    The German squad will assemble on May 30 in Herzogenaurach at the facilities of their sponsor, Adidas.

    The semifinal winners will meet in the final on June 8 in Munich, while the losers face off the same day in Stuttgart.

    Woltemade is expected to join the UEFA Under-21 Championship in Slovakia from June 11-28 after the Final Four, while Bischof has signed with Bayern through 2029.

    Woltemade’s current focus, however, remains on Germany’s senior squad. “But we wanted him around after several losses upfront,” the coach stated.

    Nagelsmann pointed to Spain’s recent success as validation of the Nations League’s importance. Spain won the 2023 Nations League before going on to claim the Euro 2024 title.

    Spain’s achievement has become a model for other European teams, the German coach said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China explores, advances harmonious human-nature coexistence

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

    Deep in a red pine forest, where towering ancient trees cast dappled shadows and the air was thick with the scent of resin, a resounding song, known as the “forest shanty,” drew a circle of curious visitors.

    This song was sung by 45-year-old Cui Jianhua, who stood beneath a centuries-old pine tree, pouring his heart into the melody at the Wuying Red Pine Forest Sea Scenic Area in the city of Yichun, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province.

    “Originally, these shanties were chanted by forestry workers while felling giant trees,” said Cui. “Today, we perform them as songs of welcome, a symbol of the thriving, harmonious life we now share with the forest.”

    Thursday marked the 2025 International Day for Biological Diversity, themed “Harmony with nature and sustainable development.”

    The idea of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature has long been embedded in the daily lives of Cui and many other forest dwellers in Yichun.

    Over the past decade, they have transitioned from logging-based livelihoods to engaging in eco-friendly industries, witnessing a transformation where both people and the forest thrive together.

    Nestled in the heart of the Lesser Khingan Mountains, Yichun was once a major timber production hub in China. With over 270 million cubic meters of wood harvested, it earned the nickname “Forest City.”

    But decades of industrial logging stripped its lush slopes bare and displaced much of its native wildlife — resulting in a mounting ecological crisis.

    In 2013, Yichun brought all commercial logging of natural forests to a halt. Since then, more than 100,000 forestry workers have laid down their axes and saws, embarking on a new journey toward harmonious coexistence with the forest.

    Cui began his career as a forest ranger. During his early years on the job, the grueling work of reforestation often left him questioning his purpose. But whenever he felt disheartened, his father, a forest police officer, would offer words of encouragement.

    “Felling trees was for building the nation. Protecting them is for securing its future,” according to Cui’s father.

    Those words inspired Cui and sparked his imagination about what the mountains might look like once they turned green again.

    Now, Cui’s vision has become reality. Thanks to Yichun’s unwavering commitment to ecological restoration — forest coverage has climbed to 83.8 percent, and forest stock increased by over 10 million cubic meters each year.

    Beyond reforestation, the city has established 23 nature reserves covering 670,000 hectares to revive biodiversity. Species long unseen, such as lynx and sables, have returned to roam the woods, while iconic creatures like the Amur tiger are also making frequent appearances.

    The forest has become a vast “natural oxygen bar,” offering fresh, invigorating air. In major scenic locations, the negative oxygen ion level soars to 3,000 per cubic centimeter — far exceeding those in urban areas.

    This transformation has turned Yichun into a magnet for tourists, heralding more opportunities for Cui and his community.

    Statistics from the city government show that in 2024, tourist arrivals and tourism revenue had increased by 53 percent and 76.2 percent year on year, respectively, while the number of overseas visitors during the winter season soared by 382 percent.

    Also benefiting from the city’s tourism boom is Liu Yangshun, who lives near the Xishui National Forest Park. Formerly a lumber truck driver, Liu started his homestay after retiring in 2016.

    “My homestay has 18 tables and operates from May to August, bringing in over 100,000 yuan (about 13,907 U.S. dollars) during the season,” he said.

    Liu also noted that more residents have turned to running homestays in recent years. Today, more than 40 such homestays are clustered around the forest park.

    Dong Wenqin, Party secretary of Yichun, said that the city has developed mountain hiking, study tour and other niche tours, drawing visitors from across the country.

    Yichun’s transformation serves as a vivid example of China’s broader commitment to both biodiversity conservation and harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.

    From a growing number of gibbons swinging through rainforest in south China’s Hainan Province and the thousands of egrets nesting freely at Qingshan Lake in east China’s Jiangxi Province, to the rescued Asian elephants roaming in Xishuangbanna, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, it is evident that China is on a remarkable journey of ecological transformation.

    Official data from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration showed that populations of rare and endangered wild species have steadily increased in China as the country’s biodiversity conservation efforts continued to yield notable results.

    The total number of overwintering waterbirds recorded in China reached nearly 5.06 million last year — a record high since nationwide monitoring began.

    Huang Runqiu, minister of ecology and environment, said at the International Day for Biological Diversity Event 2025 held in Yichun that as the presidency of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), China is actively advancing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and has established the 1.5-billion-yuan Kunming Biodiversity Fund, with nine pilot projects already underway.

    “Around the world, biodiversity is in decline,” said Beate Trankmann, resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme in China. “Within this context, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, negotiated under China’s COP15 presidency, sets out a pathway to safeguard the planet and promote coexistence with nature.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Webinar: A JSA overview – The data tools, research and advice that can help you

    Source: Jobs and Skills Australia

    Webinar: A JSA overview – The data tools, research and advice that can help you

    Ebony


    News and updates
    Webinar: A JSA overview – The data tools, research and advice that can help you

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Show’s over for man arrested with instruments of burglary

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police have arrested a man committing a string of burglaries this morning in Napier, in what a local officer is calling great back-to-basics Police work.

    Senior Sergeant Su Robinson, Napier Response Manager, says: “At around 8am, a male was seen trying to open a person’s garage door, before leaving in a vehicle of interest.

    “Officers had seen the vehicle acting suspiciously earlier and quickly identified the driver as a person of interest, also.

    “Police were able to track the man to an industrial area where it is believed he was going to dispose of property stolen from another address.

    Senior Sergeant Robinson says the quick actions of Police meant officers were able to stop the vehicle and arrest the male without incident.

    “Using the knowledge we have around local people of interest, acting quickly, and using the technology we have available has led to an excellent result.

    “The community can be assured, their homes and property are safer due to actions taken,” Senior Sergeant Robinson says.

    The 51-year-old man is now facing two charges of burglary, one charge of possessing instruments for burglary, and one of receiving stolen property.

    The man was due to appear in Napier District Court today.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Regulatory Standards Bill passes first reading

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    Regulation Minister David Seymour welcomes the passing of a Bill for transparent and principled lawmaking, with the Regulatory Standards Bill passing its first reading in Parliament today.
    “New Zealand’s low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation. To raise productivity, we must allow people to spend more time on productive activities and less time on compliance,” says Mr Seymour.  
    The Regulatory Standards Bill:

    provides a benchmark for good legislation through a set of principles of responsible regulation
    enables transparent assessment of the consistency of proposed and existing legislation with the principles
    establishes a Regulatory Standards Board to independently consider the consistency of proposed and existing legislation, and
    strengthens regulatory quality by supporting the Ministry for Regulation in its regulatory oversight role.

    “In a nutshell: If red tape is holding us back, because politicians find regulating politically rewarding, then we need to make regulating less rewarding for politicians with more sunlight on their activities. That is how the Regulatory Standards Bill will help New Zealand get its mojo back. It will finally ensure regulatory decisions are based on principles of good law-making and economic efficiency,” Mr Seymour says. 
    “Ultimately, this Bill will help the Government achieve its goal of improving New Zealand’s productivity by ensuring that regulated parties are regulated by a system which is transparent, has a mechanism for recourse, and holds regulators accountable to the people.
    “The law doesn’t stop politicians or their officials making bad laws, but it makes it transparent that they’re doing it. It makes it easier for voters to identify those responsible for making bad rules. Over time, it will improve the quality of rules we all have to live under by changing how politicians behave.
    “In a high-cost economy, regulation isn’t neutral – it’s a tax on growth. This Government is committed to clearing the path of needless regulations by improving how laws are made.”
    Notes to editors: The Regulatory Standards Bill can be found here: Regulatory Standards Bill 155-1 (2025), Government Bill Contents – New Zealand Legislation

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Investment Boost tax incentive takes effect immediately

    Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

    Investment Boost has passed into law, meaning a major new tax incentive to encourage businesses to invest, grow the economy, and lift wages is now in place, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.
    “Investment Boost takes effect immediately. This means businesses that go out today and buy machinery or tools or equipment or vehicles or technology can immediately deduct 20 per cent of that cost from taxable income – meaning a much lower tax bill.
    “The feedback to Investment Boost has already been massive, with businesses telling us it will be a game-changer.
    “This change will benefit farmers, tradies, hairdressers, manufacturers, and other businesses by helping them invest in productivity improving assets. It is all designed to help firms become more competitive and, therefore, able to lift workers’ wages.
    “The Treasury and Inland Revenue estimate Investment Boost will improve economic growth, lifting New Zealand’s GDP by 1 per cent, wages by 1.5 per cent and our capital stock by 1.6 per cent over the next 20 years, with around half these gains expected in the first five years.
    “Investment Boost applies to new assets purchased in New Zealand as well as new and used assets imported from overseas. It includes commercial buildings but excludes land, residential buildings, and assets already in use in New Zealand.
    “There’s no cap on the value of eligible investments. All businesses, regardless of size, can benefit.
    “Investment Boost delivers more bang for buck than a company tax cut because it only applies to new investments, not those made in the past.
    “The policy will reward businesses who make new investments by reducing their tax bills in the year they purchase new assets. For example, with Investment Boost, an advanced manufacturing firm that purchases a $200,000 environmental test chamber would reduce its tax bill by more than $10,000 in the year of purchase.
    “After many difficult years, New Zealand is once again on a steady economic growth path, thanks to our careful economic management supporting lower inflation, lower interest rates, and more business-friendly policies.
    “Businesses have been knocked around by challenging local and international economic conditions. This tax incentive shows that we are backing them to succeed. 
    “Now is the right time to support New Zealand’s economic recovery by making it easier for businesses to invest, hire more workers, pay them better, and contribute more to our long-term prosperity. 
    “It is only through a strong economy we can create jobs, lift incomes and afford the frontline public services like schools, hospitals and Police that Kiwis deserve.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on May 22, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 6,19,034.06 5.78 1.00-6.03
         I. Call Money 19,706.01 5.85 4.85-5.90
         II. Triparty Repo 4,18,840.25 5.79 5.60-5.91
         III. Market Repo 1,78,992.80 5.78 1.00-6.03
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,495.00 5.93 5.90-6.00
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 84.50 5.77 5.45-5.90
         II. Term Money@@ 1,255.00 – 6.05-6.15
         III. Triparty Repo 3,348.00 5.82 5.75-5.90
         IV. Market Repo 695.06 5.85 5.85-5.85
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Thu, 22/05/2025 1 Fri, 23/05/2025 4,341.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Thu, 22/05/2025 1 Fri, 23/05/2025 616.00 6.25
    4. SDFΔ# Thu, 22/05/2025 1 Fri, 23/05/2025 1,38,547.00 5.75
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -1,33,590.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Thu, 17/04/2025 43 Fri, 30/05/2025 25,731.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       8,735.56  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     34,466.56  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -99,123.44  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on May 22, 2025 9,62,288.12  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending May 30, 2025 9,48,817.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ May 22, 2025 4,341.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on May 02, 2025 2,34,873.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2025-2026/91 dated April 11, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2025-2026/391

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: On Newsmax, Cornyn Condemns Antisemitism, Discusses Murder of Israeli Embassy Staff

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn
    WASHINGTON – Today on Newsmax’s American Agenda, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed last night’s horrific murder of two staffers working for Israel’s embassy in D.C. that prompted Sen. Cornyn to call on the Department of Justice to investigate the details surrounding the suspect and the radical groups he was associated with. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.
    “Antisemitism is on the rise and needs to be condemned.”
    “Violence has no place in this country.”
    “There’s been a course correction since the election of President Trump.”
    “A lot of the woke programs and policies of universities across this country were a big surprise to a lot of people – the blatant antisemitism in particular, the targeting of Jewish students. This is unacceptable.”
    “We have a new sheriff in town. We have a new Attorney General, a new FBI Director that can aggressively do investigations and prosecute individuals who violate the rights of our Jewish citizens, and I think that will go a long way to correcting the direction that we have been on for the last four years.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Trump administration blocks Harvard from enrolling international students, threatens broader crackdown

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students on Thursday, and is forcing current foreign students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status, while also threatening to expand the crackdown to other colleges.

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the department to terminate Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification effective for the 2025-2026 school year, the department said in a statement.

    Noem accused the university of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.”

    Harvard said the move by the Trump administration – which affects thousands of students – was illegal and amounted to retaliation.

    The decision marked a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s campaign against the elite Ivy League university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which has emerged as one of Trump’s most prominent institutional targets. The move came after Harvard refused to provide information that Noem demanded about some foreign student visa holders at Harvard, the department said.

    Harvard enrolled nearly 6,800 international students in the 2024-2025 school year, amounting to 27% of its total enrollment, according to university statistics.

    In 2022, Chinese nationals were the biggest group of foreign students at 1,016, university figures showed. After that were students from Canada, India, South Korea, Britain, Germany, Australia, Singapore and Japan.

    The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    “It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments,” Noem said in a statement.

    In a letter to the university, Noem gave Harvard “the opportunity” to regain its certification by turning over within 72 hours a raft of records about foreign students, including any video or audio of their protest activity in the past five years.

    Harvard called the government’s action “unlawful” and said it was “fully committed” to educating foreign students.

    “This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission,” the university said in a statement.

    Congressional Democrats denounced the revocation, with U.S. Representative Jaime Raskin calling it an “intolerable attack on Harvard’s independence and academic freedom” and saying it was government retaliation for Harvard’s previous resistance to Trump.

    Trump has already frozen some $3 billion in federal grants to Harvard in recent weeks, leading the university to sue to restore the funding.

    In a separate lawsuit related to Trump’s efforts to terminate the legal status of hundreds of foreign students across the U.S., a federal judge ruled on Thursday that the administration could not end their status without following proper regulatory procedures. It was not immediately clear how that ruling would affect the action against Harvard.

    During an interview with Fox News’ “The Story with Martha MacCallum,” Noem was asked if she was considering similar moves at other universities, including Columbia University in New York.

    “Absolutely, we are,” Noem said. “This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together.”

    TRUMP TARGETS UNIVERSITIES

    Trump, a Republican, took office in January pledging a wide-ranging immigration crackdown. His administration has tried to revoke student visas and green cards of foreign students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests.

    He has undertaken an extraordinary effort to revamp private colleges and schools across the U.S., claiming they foster anti-American, Marxist and “radical left” ideologies. He has criticized Harvard for hiring prominent Democrats for teaching or leadership positions.

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Monday that it was terminating a further $60 million in federal grants to Harvard because it failed to address antisemitic harassment and ethnic discrimination.

    In a legal complaint filed earlier this month, Harvard said it was committed to combating antisemitism and had taken steps to ensure its campus is safe and welcoming to Jewish and Israeli students.

    Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow with the American Immigration Council, a pro-immigration advocacy group, said the action against Harvard’s student visa program “needlessly punishes thousands of innocent students.”

    “None of them have done anything wrong, they’re just collateral damage to Trump,” he said on the social media site Bluesky.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Demand notes for Government rent issued

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Lands Department announced today (May 23) that demand notes for Government rent in excess of $100 per annum for the half year ending June 24 in respect of properties subject to the Government Leases Ordinance (Cap. 40) and certain other properties have been issued.

    Payers can settle Government rent through various electronic means, including autopay, bank automated teller machines, e-Cheque/e-Cashier’s Order, the Faster Payment System, payment by phone service (PPS), and bill payment services provided by banks and PPS on the Internet. Payment may also be made in person and in cash or through the Easy Pay System at designated convenience stores. For details, please visit the Treasury’s website at www.try.gov.hk.

    Payment may be made by sending a crossed cheque to PO Box No. 28000, Sham Shui Po Post Office, Hong Kong, or in person to any post office. Please ensure sufficient mailing time and postage to make the delivery in order. Underpaid mail will be rejected. For locations of post offices and their opening hours, please call Hongkong Post’s enquiry hotline at 2921 2222 or visit its website at www.hongkongpost.hk.

    Government rent payers who have not received their demand notes should enquire at the Government Rent and Premium Unit of the Lands Department at 1/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, or call 2231 3033.

    Purchasers of properties are strongly advised to instruct their solicitors to ensure that Government rent has been paid to date at the time of purchase. Enquiries on outstanding accounts can be made at 2231 3033 or email to landsd@landsd.gov.hk. An enquiry fee is payable for each property if a written confirmation of accounts position is needed.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Gazettal of amendments to subsidiary legislation relating to intellectual property registration and litigation matters

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Government today (May 23) gazetted the Rules of the High Court (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2025, the Patents (General) (Amendment) Rules 2025, the Registered Designs (Amendment) Rules 2025 and the Trade Marks (Amendment) Rules 2025 to streamline the intellectual property (IP) litigation processes in the High Court and the proceedings before the statutory registries of the Intellectual Property Department (IPD).
     
         The three statutory registries of the IPD are responsible for registration matters of patents, registered designs and trade marks. The proceedings before and the operation of the registries are governed by the relevant IP subsidiary legislation. The amendments to the subsidiary legislation introduce provisions on the reference of proceedings to the court for determination, and enhance other proceedings before the registries and their operational arrangements.
     
         In addition, the Rules of the High Court (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2025 repeal the existing Orders 100 and 103 of the Rules of the High Court, substitute new Orders 100 and 103 and introduce a new Order 122. The new Orders respectively govern trade marks, patents and registered designs litigation processes in the Court of First Instance of the High Court, enabling more effective management and handling of cases by the High Court.
     
         “Establishing legal rights in IP through registration and enforcing such rights through litigation in court are essential elements of the IP system. The legislative amendments will further enhance Hong Kong’s IP legal framework, aligning with the national strategies of building an IP powerhouse and developing new quality productive forces. The legislative exercise is also one of the policy measures under the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a regional IP trading centre,” a spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said.
     
         The above amendments to the subsidiary legislation will be tabled at the Legislative Council on May 28 for negative vetting. Subject to the completion of the necessary legislative process, they will come into effect on October 1 this year.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special traffic and transport arrangements for Kai Tak Sports Park concerts on May 24 and 25

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Transport Department (TD) today (May 23) said that, to facilitate the holding of concerts at the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) on May 24 and 25 (hereunder referred to as event dates), special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented to provide convenience for spectators to travel to and from the KTSP. Cross-boundary travellers are urged to plan their journeys early and those who plan to return to the Mainland using cross-boundary coach services should purchase tickets in advance.

         As the traffic in the vicinity of the KTSP is expected to be heavy, concertgoers should opt for public transport and avoid driving. There will be no private car pick-up/drop-off area (PUDOA) for public use at the KTSP during the event period.

         For public transport services, the TD has co-ordinated with local and cross-boundary public transport operators to strengthen their services during the dispersal period on the event dates. The MTR will enhance the interval between trains of the Tuen Ma Line. Franchised bus companies will provide a total of 11 special bus routes at the Sung Wong Toi Road PUDOA to Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) Public Transport Interchange (PTI), the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port/Airport and major districts across the territory.

         In addition, the KTSP will arrange cross-boundary coach services during the dispersal period to facilitate travellers’ return to the Mainland via the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang (LMC/HG) Port. Passengers should purchase tickets in advance. On-site ticket sales will not be available during dispersal. They should refer to the operators’ website (Eternal East Bus: www.myeebus.com/eebusfans; CTG Bus: m.hkctgbus.com/#/layout/home) for the latest ticket information.

         For taxi services, the Sung Wong Toi Road PUDOA will be opened from 3pm to midnight for taxi pick-up/drop-off on the event dates. The waiting time will be longer amid an outflux of spectators during dispersal and passengers’ patience is appreciated.

         Of note, cross-boundary travellers should pay special attention that, according to the event organiser, this concert is expected to start and end slightly later than past events, and the last MTR train to Lo Wu Station via interchanging at Tai Wai Station on the East Rail Line (ERL) will depart from Sung Wong Toi Station at 10.59pm and Kai Tak Station at 11.01pm respectively. Those who opt for railway services should plan their journeys ahead and arrive at the station platform in advance. Travellers may also take the ERL to Sheung Shui Station and then the KMB route No. 276B or N73, or take the special bus route No. SP12 directly at the Sung Wong Toi Road PUDOA to the Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) PTI, and transfer to the LMC-HG cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) for their journey to the Mainland. As a large number of travellers may use the LMC/HG Port after the concert, it is expected to be very busy and the clearance time will be longer. Temporary traffic arrangements will be implemented along roads to the LMC/HG Port when necessary to ensure the smooth operation of public transport services. The TD has steered operators to reserve standby vehicles and manpower to meet passengers’ demand.

         Spectators are advised to heed the real-time information via the on-site broadcast and the “Easy Leave” platform (easyleave.police.gov.hk) as well as the latest traffic news through the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk), the “HKeMobility” mobile app and radio and television broadcasts.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong Ordinance takes effect upon gazettal

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Government published in the Gazette today (May 23) The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong Ordinance (Ordinance), which takes effect on the same day. The Ordinance aims to protect the exclusive right to use the titles of The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) and make technical amendments to other relevant enactments that are generally applicable to public hospitals or private healthcare facilities (PHFs), enabling these relevant provisions to apply equally to CMHHK under the same circumstances, thereby ensuring the smooth operation of CMHHK.

         CMHHK is scheduled to commence services in phases starting from the end of this year, marking an important milestone in the development of Chinese medicine (CM) in Hong Kong. As a flagship CM institution in Hong Kong, CMHHK will undertake five key missions of development, namely the provision of government-subsidised and market-oriented healthcare services, training and education, research, collaboration, and creation of health values. CMHHK will also serve as a change-driver in close collaboration with the CM sector and stakeholders to drive the overall development of CM in Hong Kong, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the international community. 

         As a hospital controlled by the Health Bureau, CMHHK is neither a public hospital managed by the Hospital Authority under the Hospital Authority Ordinance (Cap. 113) nor a PHF specified under the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633). References to “hospitals” in the existing legal provisions generally only include public hospitals or PHFs and therefore may not be applicable to CMHHK. In this connection, a number of technical amendments have been made to the Ordinance to ensure that other relevant enactments generally applicable to public hospitals or PHFs are also equally applicable to CMHHK under the same circumstances, meeting the practical operational needs of CMHHK.

         The Ordinance also specifies and offers protection for the Chinese title 香港中醫醫院 and the English title “The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong” of CMHHK, located at 1 Pak Shing Kok Road, Tseung Kwan O in the New Territories, with the titles intended for exclusive use by CMHHK. Any person who is involved in the unauthorised use of or unauthorised association with these titles commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 3 ($10,000) upon conviction.

         To complement the implementation of the Ordinance, the Government and the operator of CMHHK will implement a series of support measures, including establishing a notification mechanism between the Health Bureau and the Companies Registry to refuse registration of company names with unauthorised association with CMHHK; conducting a series of promotional activities by the Health Bureau and the operator before CMHHK commences services in phases; uploading information about its partner organisations, among others, by CMHHK to its official website for public access; and the Health Bureau and CMHHK will immediately issue public announcements for clarification in case of suspicious cases of misleading or misappropriation of titles and will consider if enforcement action is required on a case-by-case basis; as well as reviewing the relevant penalties in a timely manner.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SITI at Opening Ceremony of HK Tech 300 Expo (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Opening Ceremony of HK Tech 300 Expo today (May 23):
     
    Chairman Ngai (Chairman of the Council, City University of Hong Kong (CityU), Mr Michael Ngai), President Boey (President and University Distinguished Professor of CityU, Professor Freddy Boey), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

    Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you today at the opening ceremony of the HK Tech 300 Expo and the launch ceremony of the HK Tech 300 International Start-up Competition.
     
    I would like to first commend City University of Hong Kong and its partners for their instrumental role in supporting young talent and nurturing deep-tech start-ups in our community. Today at the Expo, I am delighted to see approximately 300 innovative start-ups and projects incubated by the HK Tech 300 programme. These initiatives demonstrate their success in translating research and innovative ideas into practical applications. I am particularly encouraged to see the programme expanding its footprint into Mainland China, Southeast Asia, and beyond.
    　　
    Over the years, the Government has implemented various policies and made significant investments to nurture and enhance support for start-ups. For example, the $10 billion Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme was launched in 2023 to fund, on a matching basis, research teams from universities with good potential to become successful start-ups to transform and commercialise their R&D (research and development) outcomes. I am pleased to see that several awarded CityU projects have already shown promising development and I look forward to seeing their research results in successful market applications.
     
    To attract more venture capital to co-invest in local I&T (innovation and technology) start-ups, we launched the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund enhanced scheme recently by redeploying up to $1.5 billion to set up funds jointly with the market, also on a matching basis, to invest in start-ups of strategic industries, thereby empowering start-ups with more financing support. We are also preparing for the launch of the Pilot I&T Accelerator Scheme to attract professional start-up service providers with proven track records in and beyond Hong Kong to set up accelerator bases in Hong Kong to foster the robust growth of start-ups and enhance the I&T ecosystem.
     
    As I always emphasise, interactive collaboration between the Government, industry, academia, research and investment sectors is essential for Hong Kong’s I&T development. CityU and the HK Tech 300 programme play a crucial role in this, creating a vibrant ecosystem that fosters cross-disciplinary, cross-sector and cross-industry collaboration. We must continue our efforts to work together to support our young entrepreneurs, providing them with the necessary resources, mentorship and opportunities they need to turn their ideas into impactful solutions, further bolstering the development of Hong Kong as an international I&T hub.　
       
    The start-up journey is undoubtedly challenging, but with the right direction and enthusiasm, even a small idea can have a significant impact and benefit society. I encourage all of you to stay creative and innovative, and I look forward to witnessing our start-ups to grow into gazelles, unicorns or even industry giants in the near future.
     
    In closing, may I wish you a fruitful and inspiring experience over the next two days at the HK Tech 300 Expo. Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government proposes amendments to update regulations on merchant shipping for compliance with international standards

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Government proposes amendments to update regulations on merchant shipping for compliance with international standards(b) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Navigational Equipment and Safety of Navigation) Regulation (Cap. 369BA);
    (c) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Construction and Survey) Regulation (Cap. 369BD);
    (d) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Fire-fighting Appliances and Fire Protection) Regulation (Cap. 369BE);
    (e) Merchant Shipping (Safety) (Ships Operating in Polar Waters) Regulation (Cap. 369BF);
    (f) Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General) Regulation (Cap. 548F);
    (g) Merchant Shipping (Reporting of Pollution Incidents) Regulations (Cap. 413C);
    (h) Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution) Regulation (Cap. 413P); and
    (i) Merchant Shipping (Control of Ballast Water and Sediments) Regulation (Cap. 413Q).
    A spokesman for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said, “As an Associate Member of the IMO, Hong Kong is committed to fulfilling our responsibilities to support the protection of the marine environment and the prevention of pollution, as well as to promote safe navigation. The proposed legislative amendments will keep our local laws up to date and in line with international standards on those fronts.”Issued at HKT 11:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tenders invited for management, operation, installation and maintenance of public lighting system in Hong Kong Island and Islands

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Highways Department (HyD) today (May 23) invited tenders for a four-year term contract for the management, operation, installation and maintenance of the public lighting system in Hong Kong Island and Islands (Contract No. 01/HY/2025) from October 2025 to September 2029.
     
         The contract, which will be supervised by the Lighting Division of the HyD, covers the design, management, operation, installation and maintenance of the public lighting system in Hong Kong Island and Islands. The public lighting system generally consists of conventional road lighting, village lighting, gantry sign lighting, roadside directional sign lighting, public transport interchange lighting, underpass lighting and the associated cables, ducts, peripheral items and system. Within the designated contract area, there are about 31 400 road and village lighting points and about 900 lighting installations on illuminated gantry signs and roadside directional signs.
     
         Tenderers shall submit completed tenders in electronic format via the Electronic Tendering System for works contracts. In addition to the electronic submission, tenderers may opt to submit its tender in hard copy. Submission in hard copy is optional and it will not be used unless falling within the exceptions stated in the conditions of tender. The hard copy of the tender submission must be placed in the Government Secretariat Tender Box located at the lobby of the Public Entrance on G/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. Submission of tenders will close at noon on July 4, 2025 (Friday).
     
         For enquiries, please call the Chief Engineer/Lighting of the HyD at 3903 6550.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Very Hot Weather Warning issued

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Attention TV/radio announcers:

    Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

    The Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Very Hot Weather Warning.

    To prevent heat stroke, avoid prolonged activities outdoors.

    If engaged in outdoor work or activities, wear a wide-brimmed hat and light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes. Stay in shaded areas as much as possible.

    Drink plenty of water, and avoid beverages containing caffeine or alcohol.

    If you feel sick, consult a doctor right away.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The 4th China-CEEC Expo and International Consumer Goods Fair opened in Ningbo, China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    NINGBO, May 23 (Xinhua) — The 4th China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEE) Expo and International Consumer Goods Fair kicked off in Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang Province, on Thursday.

    The event, which takes place from 22 to 25 May, is attended not only by companies from 14 CEE countries, but also by exhibitors from Western European countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy, etc.

    It is worth noting that the exhibition area, number of participants and products within the event broke the historical record. In particular, the exhibition area for enterprises from the Central and Eastern European countries is about 20 thousand square meters, where more than 8 thousand names of goods from these countries will be presented.

    The exhibition will be visited by more than 15,000 people, including more than 3,000 overseas buyers from 72 countries and regions. It is expected that the volume of import purchases from CEE countries may exceed 10 billion yuan.

    According to the data, since 2012, China’s trade with CEE countries has grown by an average of 8.8 percent per year, while imports from these countries have grown by an average of 7.4 percent per year, outpacing the growth rate of China’s foreign trade over the period.

    In addition, in 2024, trade volume between China and CEE countries increased by 6.3 percent year-on-year to reach a record high of US$142.3 billion.

    The China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair, jointly organized by the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, was first launched in 2019 with the aim of introducing products from CEECs to the Chinese market, expanding exports of products from CEECs to China, and promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between China and CEECs. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –