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Category: DJF

  • India’s youth driving innovation and nation-building: Speaker Om Birla at IIT Jodhpur

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday emphasized the pivotal role of Indian youth in shaping the nation’s progress, stating that India is emerging as a global leader in addressing contemporary challenges through the strength of its young talent and technological innovation.

    Speaking at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Jodhpur, Birla lauded the contribution of India’s youth in propelling social, economic, and technological advancement, and urged them to continue harnessing cutting-edge technology for the betterment of the nation.

    Birla noted that the youth of India are increasingly transitioning from job seekers to job creators, with IITs playing a crucial role in this transformation. “Graduates from IITs have significantly contributed to strengthening the country’s startup ecosystem and economic development,” he said.

    Birla added that the global demand for skilled and innovative Indian youth is a testament to their growing impact, and encouraged them to become active stakeholders in the journey towards a Viksit Bharat.

    During his visit, the Lok Sabha Speaker inaugurated the state-of-the-art Lecture Hall Complex – II at IIT Jodhpur. He emphasized the importance of integrating modern scientific advancements with India’s rich spiritual heritage, stating that this balanced approach promotes ethical, inclusive, and sustainable growth. “India is moving forward by combining its scientific capabilities with spiritual wisdom, charting a path toward holistic national advancement,” Birla said.

    The LS Speaker also highlighted India’s strides in achieving self-reliance across various sectors — from manufacturing toys to producing defence equipment — and said that the country’s robust digital ecosystem has further fueled the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

    Praising the contribution of IITs in advancing technical education, Birla asserted that every college and university in India should strive to become a hub of innovation and excellence. He called upon higher education institutions to move beyond conventional teaching and foster creativity, research, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration to drive India’s growth in science and technology.

    “IIT students have enhanced India’s global stature by combining modern technology with Indian thinking and a fresh perspective,” he noted. Birla added that academic spaces should evolve into dynamic ecosystems where ideas are nurtured, talents are shaped, and future leaders are created.

    Referring to IIT Jodhpur’s transformative journey, Birla commended the institute for its pioneering role in global research, innovation, and cultivating scientific temper. He praised the efforts of Director Prof. Avinash K. Agarwal and the institute’s contributions in areas like defence technology and sustainable development in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

    Despite being located in a geographically challenging region, the institute has emerged as a beacon of progress, empowering young minds with access to world-class education and innovative thinking, Birla added.

    Birla also distributed ‘Research Initiative Grants’ to support innovation-related projects at the institute. Additionally, he launched IIT Jodhpur’s new official website and planted a sapling on the campus as a symbolic gesture of sustainable growth.

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNFPA report links falling birth rates to cost of living, sexist norms, fear of the future

    Source: United Nations Population Fund

    NEW YORK, 10 June, 2025 – Millions of people are unable to have the number of children they want, but not because they are rejecting parenthood; economic and social barriers are stopping them. This is the central finding of UNFPA’s 2025 State of World Population report, “The real fertility crisis: The pursuit of reproductive agency in a changing world”.* 

    Drawing on academic research and new data from a UNFPA/YouGov survey spanning 14 countries – together home to over a third of the global population – the report finds that one in five people globally expect to not have the number of children they desire. Key drivers include the prohibitive cost of parenthood, job insecurity, housing, concerns over the state of the world, and the lack of a suitable partner. A toxic blend of economic precarity and sexism play a role in many of these issues, the report shows.

    “Vast numbers of people are unable to create the families they want,” said Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA. “The issue is lack of choice, not desire, with major consequences for individuals and societies. That is the real fertility crisis, and the answer lies in responding to what people say they need: paid family leave, affordable fertility care, and supportive partners.”

    The data paints a stark picture:

    • More than half of people said economic issues were a barrier to having as many children as they wanted.
    • 1 in 5 people report having been pressured to have children when they didn’t want to.
    • 1 in 3 adults have experienced an unintended pregnancy.
    • 11% say that unequal caregiving burdens would undermine their ability to have children.
    • 40% of respondents over 50 say they failed to have the number of children they wanted.

    The report warns against simplistic or coercive responses to declining birth rates – such as baby bonuses or fertility targets – noting that these policies are largely ineffective and can violate human rights.

    Instead, UNFPA urges governments to empower people to make reproductive decisions freely, including by investing in affordable housing, decent work, parental leave, and the full range of reproductive health services and reliable information. Other solutions include expanding access to parenthood to LGBTQI+ and single people. 

    UNFPA also calls on societies to address all the ways that gender inequality undermines people’s family choices, including:

    • Workplace norms that push women out of paid work
    • Lack of paid flexible leave for men and stigma against engaged fathers
    • Lack of affordable childcare
    • Restrictions in reproductive rights, including contraception, abortion and fertility care
    • Diverging gender attitudes held by young men and women, contributing to singlehood

    A tailored mix of economic, social, and political measures will be needed in each country to help people form the families they want. As policy makers consider how to navigate shifting population dynamics, UNFPA stands ready to support them in understanding the challenges they face, and designing solutions that will ensure rights and choices for all.

    • You can access the UNFPA report “The real fertility crisis: The pursuit  of reproductive agency in a changing world” here: www.unfpa.org/swp2025*
    • For more information about UNFPA, please visit: www.unfpa.org 

    *Please note the online version of the report will go live when the embargo lifts.

    Media contacts:

    About UNFPA and the State of World Population Report:

    As the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA helps people obtain contraception and life-saving reproductive health services and information and empowers women and girls to make informed decisions about their bodies and lives. It also helps countries use population data to better understand and harness the opportunities that can come with demographic change. 

    The State of World Population report is UNFPA’s annual flagship publication. Published yearly since 1978, it shines a light on emerging issues in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, bringing them into the mainstream and exploring the challenges and opportunities they present for international development.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s message on the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations – English

    strong>Download the video:
    https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+INTL+DAY+DIALOGUE+AMONG+CIVILIZATIONS+05+MAY+25/3374148_MSG+SG+INTL+DAY+DIALOGUE+AMONG+CIVILIZATIONS+05+MAY+25.mp4

    The United Nations was built on a fundamental conviction: dialogue is the path to peace.

    On this First International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, we celebrate that conviction – and the rich diversity of civilizations as a force to promote mutual understanding and global solidarity.

    Today, that mission is more urgent than ever. 

    Where dialogue is missing, ignorance fills the void. 

    Around the world, we hear rising voices of intolerance and xenophobia, amplified by online misinformation and hate speech.

    In our fractured world, dialogue is not optional – it is essential for building bridges of understanding and trust.   

    So, too, is the work of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, re-enforced by the global platform for dialogue that it has created over the past two decades.
     
    This International Day is a call to action – to listen, to speak, to connect.

    Let’s answer hate with humanity.

    Let’s listen with open hearts and open minds.

    Let’s choose dialogue over division.

    And let us strive to be one human family, rich in diversity, united in solidarity, and equal in dignity and human rights.

    ***

    L’ONU est née d’une conviction fondamentale : c’est par le dialogue que peut advenir la paix.

    La première Journée internationale pour le dialogue entre les civilisations est l’occasion de mettre à l’honneur cette idée et de souligner que la grande diversité des civilisations sert de terreau fertile à la compréhension mutuelle et à la solidarité mondiale.

    Cette ambition est plus que jamais d’actualité.

    Lorsque le dialogue fait défaut, l’ignorance prospère.

    Partout dans le monde, les voix de l’intolérance et de la xénophobie gagnent du terrain, amplifiées par la mésinformation et les discours de haine en ligne.

    Dans notre monde fracturé, le dialogue est une nécessité : il est indispensable pour favoriser la compréhension et la confiance.

    Tel est également le rôle de l’Alliance des civilisations de l’ONU, dont les travaux s’appuient sur une plateforme mondiale de dialogue depuis deux décennies.

    Cette journée internationale nous invite à faire preuve d’écoute, à dialoguer et à nouer des liens.

    Répondons à la haine par l’humanité.

    Faisons preuve d’empathie et d’ouverture d’esprit.

    Privilégions le dialogue à la division.

    Et tâchons de former une seule et même famille humaine, riche de sa diversité, unie dans la solidarité et égale en dignité et en droits humains.

    ***
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • 15 states sue over Trump move to return seized rapid-fire devices for guns

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Fifteen Democratic-led U.S. states filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking to block Republican President Donald Trump’s administration from returning thousands of previously seized devices that can be used to convert semiautomatic rifles into weapons that can shoot as quickly as machine guns.

    The states filed the lawsuit in federal court in Baltimore in the wake of the administration’s May 16 settlement that resolved litigation involving a ban on certain “forced-reset triggers” imposed by the government under Trump’s Democratic predecessor Joe Biden. The states in the lawsuit said such devices remain illegal to possess under federal law.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under Biden issued the ban after it determined that some of these devices should be classified as illegal machine guns under a federal law called the National Firearms Act.

    “We will not stand by as the Trump administration attempts to secretly legalize machine guns in an effort to once again put firearms industry profits over the safety of our residents,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement.

    The lawsuit was led by New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, and also included the states of Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington as well as the District of Columbia.

    The Trump administration’s settlement reversed course on the Biden administration’s policies.

    The settlement resolved lawsuits brought by a gun rights group challenging the ban and cases brought by Biden’s Justice Department against a manufacturer of the devices. Those cases had resulted in conflicting court rulings over the legality of classifying these devices as illegal machine guns.

    As part of the settlement, the Trump administration agreed to not apply the machine gun ban to such devices as long as they are not designed for use with handguns and agreed to return nearly 12,000 forced-reset triggers that had been seized by the government to their owners. The new lawsuit seeks to block the return of these devices to their owners.

    The states said conversion devices like forced reset triggers have been frequently used in recent years in violent crimes and mass shootings, and that at least 100,000 such devices that were distributed nationally in recent years should be considered illegal machine guns.

    The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    (Reuters)

  • Apple opens its AI to developers but keeps its broader ambitions modest

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Apple AAPL.O announced on Monday a slew of artificial intelligence features including opening up Apple Intelligence’s underlying technology in a modest update of its software and services as it lays the groundwork for future advances.

    The presentations at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference focused more on incremental developments, including live translations for phone calls, that improve everyday life rather than the sweeping ambitions for AI that Apple’s rivals are marketing.

    A year after it failed to deliver promised AI-based upgrades to key products such as Siri, Apple kept its AI promises to consumers low-key, communicating that it could help with tasks like finding where to buy a jacket similar to one they have seen online.

    Behind the scenes, Apple hinted at a strategy of offering its own tools to developers alongside those from rivals, similar to a strategy by Microsoft last month. Apple software chief Craig Federighi said the company will offer both its own and OpenAI’s code completion tools in its key Apple developer software and that the company is opening up the foundational AI model that it uses for some of its own features to third-party developers.

    “We’re opening up access for any app to tap directly into the on-device, large language model at the core of Apple,” Federighi said.

    In an early demonstration of this at work, the company added image generation from OpenAI’s ChatGPT to its Image Playground app, saying that user data would not be shared with OpenAI without a user’s permission.

    “You could see Apple’s priority is what they’re doing on the back-end, instead of what they’re doing at the front-end, which most people don’t really care about yet,” said Ben Bajarin, chief executive of analyst firm Creative Strategies.

    Apple is facing an unprecedented set of technical and regulatory challenges as it kicked off its software developer conference.

    Shares of Apple, which were flat before the start of the event, closed 1.2% lower on Monday.

    “In a moment in which the market questions Apple’s ability to take any sort of lead in the AI space, the announced features felt incremental at best,” Thomas Monteiro, senior analyst at Investing.com, said. Compared with what other big AI companies are introducing, he added, “It just seems that the clock is ticking faster every day for Apple.”

    That is a contrast to the ambitious vision laid out by Apple last year.

    “They went from being visionary and talking about agents before a lot of other people did, to now realizing that, at the end of the day, what they need to do is deliver on what they presented a year ago,” said Bob O’Donnell, chief analyst at Technalysis Research.

    Apple executives said that developers will have access only to Apple’s on-device version of Apple Intelligence, which does not tap into special data centers Apple built for its AI efforts. The on-device model is about 3 billion parameters, a measurement of the model’s level of sophistication, meaning that it cannot handle the more complex tasks that cloud-based models can.

    As Apple executives discussed new features at the event in Cupertino, California, OpenAI announced a new financial milestone on Monday, reaching $10 billion in annualized revenue run rate as of June.

    OS UPDATES

    Federighi also said Apple plans a design overhaul of all of its operating systems.

    Apple’s redesign of its operating systems centered on a design it calls “liquid glass” where icons and menus are partially transparent, a step Apple executives said was possible because of the more powerful custom chips in Apple devices versus a decade ago.

    Federighi said the new design will span operating systems for iPhones, Macs and other Apple products. He also said Apple’s operating systems will be given year names instead of sequential numbers for each version. That will unify naming conventions that have become confusing because Apple’s core operating systems for phones, watches and other devices kicked off at different times, resulting in a smattering of differently numbered operating systems for different products.

    Some analysts told Reuters that Apple’s decision to introduce familiar Mac capabilities, such as a multitasking interface and menu bar, to iPad could portend a shift in priorities around which devices it markets to consumers.

    In other new features, Apple introduced “Call Screening” where iPhones will automatically answer calls from an unknown number and ask the caller the purpose of their call. Once the caller states their purpose, the iPhone will show a transcription of the reason for the call, and ring for the owner.

    Apple also said it will add live translation to phone calls, as well as allow developers to integrate its live translation technology into their apps. Apple said the caller on the other end of the phone call will not need to have an iPhone for the live translation feature to work.

    Apple’s Visual Intelligence app – which can help users find a pair of shoes similar to ones at which they have pointed an iPhone camera – will be extended to analyzing items on the iPhone’s screen and linked together with apps. Apple gave an example of seeing a jacket online and using the feature to find a similar one for sale on an app already installed in the user’s iPhone.

    (Reuters)

  • India building alternative rare earth supply chain amid curbs China curbs: Piyush Goyal

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday described China’s rare earth export restrictions as a global “wake-up call,” underscoring India’s efforts to build alternative supply chains and position itself as a reliable partner for international businesses seeking to reduce dependence on Chinese suppliers.

    Speaking to reporters during his official visit to Switzerland—where he met with Swiss government officials and business leaders—Goyal acknowledged that China’s export curbs would pose short-term challenges for India’s automotive and white goods sectors.

    However, he expressed confidence that collaborative efforts among the government, industry, and innovators would turn these challenges into long-term opportunities.

    The minister outlined a multi-pronged strategy to address the crisis. This includes diplomatic engagement through ongoing dialogue between the Indian embassy and Chinese authorities, as well as the commerce ministry’s push to identify alternative sources. The government is also strengthening Indian Rare Earths Limited by providing resources to accelerate domestic production.

    “This situation serves as a wake-up call for all those who have become over-reliant on certain geographies,” Goyal said. “It’s a wake-up call for the whole world—you need trusted partners in your supply chain.”

    India’s automotive industry has requested the government’s assistance in expediting the approval process for importing rare earth magnets from China—critical components used in passenger vehicles and various automotive applications.

    China currently controls over 90% of global magnet production capacity, creating substantial vulnerabilities across industries. These materials are essential to sectors ranging from automobiles and home appliances to clean energy systems.

    The new Chinese regulations, effective April 4, require special export licenses for seven rare earth elements and related magnetic products.

    “There are clearly issues around the suspension of permanent magnet supplies from China to India, which will particularly affect our auto sector and several white goods manufacturers,” Goyal explained. “Some companies have submitted their applications, and we hope pragmatic considerations will prevail, allowing them to receive the necessary approvals.”

    Asked about possible government support through production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, Goyal shared that discussions with automotive manufacturers have been encouraging.

    The companies have expressed strong confidence in addressing supply chain challenges through partnerships with domestic innovators and startups.

    “They are actively engaging with our innovators and startups, indicating their willingness to provide funding or pricing adjustments to accelerate growth in this sector,” the minister said.

    Goyal also praised the evolving mindset of Indian industry, noting a shift away from reliance on government subsidies.

    “More and more Indian businesses are moving beyond the old belief that subsidies alone will sustain operations. They are becoming bigger and bolder in their approach,” he said.

    The minister highlighted emerging technologies being developed in India as potential alternatives to Chinese rare earth supplies.

    “There are some technologies that India is developing,” he noted, stressing the importance of the collaborative approach among government, industry, startups, and innovators. “We are all working as a team and remain confident that, while short-term challenges exist, we will emerge as winners in the medium to long term.”

    Goyal concluded by framing the current disruption as a strategic opportunity for India’s manufacturing ecosystem. He believes it will accelerate the push for self-reliance and the formation of trustworthy global supply chain partnerships.

    “There is opportunity even in this crisis,” he said. “More and more companies and people in India will realise the importance of being self-reliant and having trusted partners in supply chains. The world increasingly wants India to be a part of their supply chains, because we are seen as a trusted partner.”

    (ANI)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Giant Radio Telescope Under Construction in China’s Xinjiang

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    URUMQI, June 10 (Xinhua) — A giant radio telescope is under construction in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Its main tower was completed on Sunday, marking the official start of its interior decoration.

    Located in a valley in Qitai County, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, the radio telescope has an aperture of 110 meters and is expected to be completed and put into operation in 2028.

    The height of the radio telescope’s antenna structure system exceeds the height of a 35-story building, the telescope’s collecting area is equal to 23 basketball courts, and the weight of the antenna exceeds 6,000 tons.

    Once completed, the telescope will be the world’s leading large-aperture radio telescope, fully steerable, highly sensitive, and multidisciplinary. Compared to fixed radio telescopes of the same size, fully steerable radio telescopes can observe a larger portion of the sky.

    In addition to meeting the needs of scientific observations and experimental research, it will also serve as a base for the popularization of astronomical science and its education. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s message on the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Download the video:
    https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+INTL+DAY+DIALOGUE+AMONG+CIVILIZATIONS+05+MAY+25/3374148_MSG+SG+INTL+DAY+DIALOGUE+AMONG+CIVILIZATIONS+05+MAY+25.mp4

    The United Nations was built on a fundamental conviction: dialogue is the path to peace.

    On this First International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, we celebrate that conviction – and the rich diversity of civilizations as a force to promote mutual understanding and global solidarity.

    Today, that mission is more urgent than ever. 

    Where dialogue is missing, ignorance fills the void. 

    Around the world, we hear rising voices of intolerance and xenophobia, amplified by online misinformation and hate speech.

    In our fractured world, dialogue is not optional – it is essential for building bridges of understanding and trust.   

    So, too, is the work of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, re-enforced by the global platform for dialogue that it has created over the past two decades.
     
    This International Day is a call to action – to listen, to speak, to connect.

    Let’s answer hate with humanity.

    Let’s listen with open hearts and open minds.

    Let’s choose dialogue over division.

    And let us strive to be one human family, rich in diversity, united in solidarity, and equal in dignity and human rights.

    ***

    L’ONU est née d’une conviction fondamentale : c’est par le dialogue que peut advenir la paix.

    La première Journée internationale pour le dialogue entre les civilisations est l’occasion de mettre à l’honneur cette idée et de souligner que la grande diversité des civilisations sert de terreau fertile à la compréhension mutuelle et à la solidarité mondiale.

    Cette ambition est plus que jamais d’actualité.

    Lorsque le dialogue fait défaut, l’ignorance prospère.

    Partout dans le monde, les voix de l’intolérance et de la xénophobie gagnent du terrain, amplifiées par la mésinformation et les discours de haine en ligne.

    Dans notre monde fracturé, le dialogue est une nécessité : il est indispensable pour favoriser la compréhension et la confiance.

    Tel est également le rôle de l’Alliance des civilisations de l’ONU, dont les travaux s’appuient sur une plateforme mondiale de dialogue depuis deux décennies.

    Cette journée internationale nous invite à faire preuve d’écoute, à dialoguer et à nouer des liens.

    Répondons à la haine par l’humanité.

    Faisons preuve d’empathie et d’ouverture d’esprit.

    Privilégions le dialogue à la division.

    Et tâchons de former une seule et même famille humaine, riche de sa diversité, unie dans la solidarité et égale en dignité et en droits humains.

    ***
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: What’s in a Soldier’s Ruck? Then vs. Now

    Source: US Army (video statements)

    About the U.S. Army: The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force. Interested in joining the U.S. Army? Visit:
    spr.ly/6001igl5L
    Connect with the U.S. Army online: Web:
    https://www.army.mil
    Facebook:
    https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
    X:

    Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
    LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
    #USArmy #Soldiers #Military #Shorts #Army

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpLXUEiYjq0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • France, Brazil launch initiative to scale up ocean-focused climate action

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    On the first day of the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), France and Brazil have launched a landmark international initiative to dramatically scale up ocean-focused climate action.

    The Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge calls on all countries to place the ocean at the heart of their climate plans ahead of UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) which Brazil will host in November this year.

    Alongside Brazil and France, an inaugural group of eight countries – Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, and Seychelles – has already joined the initiative, committing to include the ocean in their updated climate plans under the Paris Agreement.

    These plans represent the centrepiece of each country’s efforts to reduce emissions and limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build resilience, and represent the highest level of political will under the UN Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC).

    Launched on Monday, and building on the momentum this year brings as countries prepare to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the Blue NDC Challenge underscores the urgent need to recognise the ocean’s central role in addressing the climate crisis as a key ally.

    The initiative is supported by Ocean Conservancy, the Ocean and Climate Platform, and the World Resources Institute through the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance (ORCA) and has been endorsed by WWF-Brazil.

    In addition to its forests, Brazil is also an oceanic nation, with 40 per cent of its territory located at sea and hosting marine ecosystems of global significance — including the only coral reefs in the South Atlantic and the world’s largest contiguous mangrove belt along the Amazon coast.

    These ecosystems play a vital role in both climate adaptation and mitigation, serving as natural buffers against extreme weather events and contributing to carbon storage.

    “For Brazil, the Blue NDC Challenge represents a key opportunity to strengthen ocean-related climate action and to emphasise the essential role of ocean-based solutions in achieving emission reduction targets. Through this initiative Brazil seeks to advance international cooperation on ocean climate action in the lead-up to COP30, and to underscore the need for all countries to fully integrate the ocean into their national climate strategies,” said Marina Silva, Brazil Minister for the Environment and Climate Change.

    “In its recently submitted NDC, Brazil has explicitly included, for the first time, ocean-based climate actions, recognising the ocean’s critical role in climate regulation. These include the implementation of national Marine Spatial Planning, the enhancement of coastal zone management, and the establishment of programs for the conservation and restoration of mangroves and coral reefs,” she noted.

    Governments joining the Blue NDCs Challenge commit to stepping up efforts to reduce emissions and build resilience through ocean-based solutions, while also delivering benefits for both nature and people.

    Under the leadership of the governments of Brazil and France, eight inaugural countries spanning the globe committed to include ocean action in their national climate plans.

    “Ultimately, industrial marine sectors and natural ecosystems are underused tools in addressing climate change and other development needs. As world leaders gather in Nice and prepare for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30), they can take inspiration from the Seychelles in championing ocean-based climate action,” said Wavel Ramkalawan, the President of Seychelles.

    “We are pleased to join the Blue NDC Challenge and work alongside COP30 host, Brazil, as well as France, Fiji, Seychelles, Mexico, Palau to highlight the vital role of the ocean in global efforts on climate change,” said Senator Murray Watt, Australia’s Environment Minister.

    (IANS)

  • Former India captain MS Dhoni inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Former India captain MS Dhoni has been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, the sport’s global governing body said on Monday, recognising the wicketkeeper-batsman’s contribution to the game across all formats.

    Dhoni, 42, joins a class of seven inductees this year, including Australia’s Matthew Hayden and South Africa’s Hashim Amla. Known for his composure under pressure and sharp tactical acumen, Dhoni led India to three major ICC titles during his international career: the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy.

    “Celebrated for his calm under pressure and unmatched tactical nous… Dhoni’s legacy as one of the game’s greatest finishers, leaders and wicketkeepers has been honoured,” the ICC said in a statement.

    Dhoni played 538 international matches between 2004 and 2019, scoring 17,266 runs and completing 829 dismissals as a wicketkeeper. He also holds the record for the most stumpings in ODIs (123) and captained India in 200 matches in the format — the most by any Indian player.

    Reacting to the honour, Dhoni said being named in the Hall of Fame was a moment of pride. “To have your name remembered alongside such all-time greats is a wonderful feeling. It is something that I will cherish forever,” he said.

    Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020 but continues to play in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings.

  • MIL-Evening Report: There are clear laws on enforcing blockades – Israel’s interception of the Madleen raises serious questions

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Bosch, Associate Professor (Law), Edith Cowan University

    On June 9, the Madleen, a UK-flagged civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, was stopped by Israeli forces in international waters, about 200 kilometres off the coast.

    The Freedom Flotilla Coalition had organised the voyage, setting sail from Sicily on June 1. The vessel’s 12 passengers included climate activist Greta Thunberg, European Parliament member Rima Hassan, two French journalists and several other activists from around the world.

    The Israeli military boarded the ship and diverted it to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The aid it carried — baby formula, food, medical supplies, water desalination kits — was confiscated. All passengers were detained and now face deportation.

    This interception has sparked international condemnation. Importantly, it also raises questions about whether Israel’s actions comply with international law.

    Legal conditions for naval blockades

    Naval blockades are not automatically illegal. Under the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (1994), a blockade may be used in wartime, but only if five legal conditions are met:

    • it must be formally declared and publicly notified
    • it must be effectively enforced in practice
    • it must be applied impartially to all ships
    • it must not block access to neutral ports or coastlines
    • it must not stop the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.

    If even one of these conditions is not met, the blockade may be considered illegal under customary international humanitarian law.

    The fifth condition is especially important here. According to a comprehensive study of international humanitarian law conducted by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the parties to a conflict must allow the rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian relief to civilians in need.

    A blockade that prevents this could be in breach of international law.

    Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade of varying degrees on Gaza since 2007 when Hamas came to power. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz claims the purpose of the blockade is to “prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas”. Critics say it amounts to collective punishment.

    The Madleen was operating in compliance with three binding International Court of Justice orders (from January 2024, March 2024 and May 2024) requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.

    Freedom of navigation

    International law also strongly protects the freedom of navigation, particularly in international waters beyond any state’s territorial limits.

    There are only a few exceptions when a country can lawfully stop a foreign ship in international waters – if it is involved in piracy, slave trading, unauthorised broadcasting, or the vessel itself is stateless. A country can also stop a ship if it is enforcing a lawful blockade or acting in self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

    So, if Israel’s actions do not fully meet the international legal requirements for enforcing a blockade during wartime, it would not have the right to intercept the Madleen in international waters.

    Protections for humanitarian workers

    More broadly speaking, international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, protects civilians during conflict. This protection extends to people delivering humanitarian aid, so long as they do not directly take part in hostilities.

    To be considered directly participating in hostilities, a person must:

    • intend to cause military harm
    • have a direct causal link to that harm, and
    • be acting in connection with one side of the conflict.

    Bringing aid to civilians, even if politically controversial, does not meet this legal threshold. As a result, the Madleen’s passengers remain protected civilians and should not be treated as combatants or detained arbitrarily.

    International law also sets out how civilians detained in conflict situations must be treated. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, detainees must be given access to medical care, lawyers and consular representatives. They must also not be punished without fair legal processes.

    Reports that Madleen passengers have been detained and are facing deportation raise concerns about whether these standards are being upheld.

    In response to the ship’s interception, the Hind Rajab Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy group, has filed a complaint with the UK Metropolitan Police War Crimes Unit. The complaint alleges a number of breaches of international humanitarian law, including forcible detention, obstruction of humanitarian relief, and degrading treatment.

    Previous flotilla intercepted

    This is not the first time Israel has stopped an aid ship and faced accusations of violating the law of the sea and humanitarian law.

    In 2010, the Israeli military raided a flotilla of six ships organised by international activists aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge the blockade.

    Violence broke out on the largest vessel, the Mavi Marmara, resulting in the deaths of nine Turkish nationals and injuries to dozens of others. The incident drew international condemnation. Israel agreed to ease its blockade after the incident.

    A fact-finding mission established by the UN Human Rights Council found that Israel violated a number of international laws and that its blockade was “inflicting disproportionate damage upon the civilian population”.

    This is not just a political or moral issue – it’s a legal one. International law lays out clear rules for when and how a country can enforce blockades, intercept vessels and treat civilians.

    Based on these rules, serious legal questions remain about Israel’s handling of the Madleen and its passengers.

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

    – ref. There are clear laws on enforcing blockades – Israel’s interception of the Madleen raises serious questions – https://theconversation.com/there-are-clear-laws-on-enforcing-blockades-israels-interception-of-the-madleen-raises-serious-questions-258562

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China extends visa-free access to 4 Gulf countries

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

    Tourists from Australia pose for photos at the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing, capital of China, May 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China this week launched a trial policy that grants unilateral visa-free entry to citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, expanding its unilateral visa-free access list to 47 countries.

    Under the policy, which will remain in effect through June 8, 2026, holders of ordinary passports from these four countries can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchange, and transit.

    Both the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar have established reciprocal visa-free arrangements with China since 2018, which means all six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) now enjoy visa-free access to China.

    The expansion has been warmly welcomed across the Gulf region and is expected to boost bilateral exchanges, strengthen cultural and people-to-people ties, and inject new momentum into broader China-GCC cooperation.

    In a statement posted on platform X following China’s announcement in late May, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the move would “contribute to encouraging mutual visits and deepening the bonds of friendship between the two friendly peoples.”

    Emirati travel influencer Abdulla Alblooshi praised the policy in a video on social media, calling it a major benefit for Gulf travelers. “Now, all you need is your passport to travel to China,” he said.

    Naif Awlia, director of tourism and engagement at Saudi tourism developer Diriyah Company, also hailed the policy as a positive step forward. “Friendly ties are the foundation of long-term cooperation, and we look forward to deepening our partnership with China,” he said.

    Kanoo Travel, one of the largest travel companies in the Gulf region and an early mover in promoting outbound tourism to China, has launched new travel packages since the announcement, targeting residents of the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

    Harvey Lines, Acting CEO of Kanoo Travel, called the new policy “a gateway to expanded China-Arab cooperation,” adding that the company is committed to facilitating closer people-to-people exchanges between China and the Gulf region — and the broader Arab world.

    China and Gulf countries already enjoy strong air travel connectivity, and the new visa-free policy is anticipated to further boost travel volume.

    Currently, about 20 direct flights operate weekly between major Chinese cities — including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen — and Saudi destinations such as Riyadh and Jeddah. The UAE is connected to 13 cities across the Chinese mainland with direct flights.

    Looking ahead, Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines plans to launch a direct Haikou-Jeddah route on June 28, while UAE carrier Emirates will begin daily nonstop service between Dubai and Shenzhen on July 1.

    Observers say the new policy reflects the growing political, economic, and cultural ties between China and the Gulf region. In 2024, trade between China and GCC countries reached 288.09 billion U.S. dollars, making the GCC China’s sixth-largest trading partner.

    Wen Shaobiao, a Middle East researcher at Shanghai International Studies University, noted that the visa-free policy will significantly reduce travel time costs and facilitate large-scale, two-way mobility.

    “It will encourage people-to-people exchanges and academic collaboration while helping to advance trade, investment, and joint projects, aligning with business sector expectations,” Wen said.

    The latest step underscores China’s continued push to open its doors wider to global visitors, in line with its commitment to high-level opening-up.

    Since late 2023, China has introduced a series of traveler-friendly policies. Starting June 1, holders of ordinary passports from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay are eligible for unilateral visa-free entry — the first time such access has been extended to Latin American and Caribbean nations.

    Additionally, the visa-free transit period has been extended to 240 hours for travelers from 54 countries.

    These initiatives have already had a noticeable impact. In 2024, China recorded 3.39 million entries under its unilateral visa-free policy, a year-on-year surge of 1,200 percent. During the recent three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, 231,000 foreigners entered China without a visa, up 59.4 percent from a year earlier.

    Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, said foreign travelers come not only to visit China’s landscapes and cities but also to experience everyday life. “These visits offer opportunities to discover the real China,” he said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Exhibition at Capital Museum explores Beijing’s history

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

    Editor’s Note: The “Eternal Witness of Civilization: History of Beijing” exhibition, which opened on Feb. 10, 2024, at the Capital Museum, charts Beijing’s 700,000 years of human settlement, 3,000 years of urban growth, and 800 years as China’s capital. Artifacts from prehistory to the present show Beijing’s rise as a cultural and political center. The exhibition also highlights how the city’s legacy shapes its current development strategy.

    This photo, taken on June 5, 2025, shows the preface to the exhibition “Eternal Witness of Civilization: History of Beijing,” on display at the Capital Museum in Beijing. The exhibition traces the city’s evolution as a living testimony to Chinese civilization, highlighting continuity, unity, innovation and inclusiveness from prehistoric times to the present. [Photo by Liu Ziying/China.org.cn]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Youth leaders gather for World Youth Energy Partner Dialogue

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

    International youth leaders and experts gathered for the World Youth Energy Partner Dialogue on June 8 as part of the World Youth Energy Tour (WYET) 2025, exchanging views on critical topics like energy transition and international cooperation in renewable energy. 

    The event, co-hosted by China International Communications Group (CICG) and CHN Energy Investment Corporation (CHN Energy), brought together 14 youth leaders from eight countries to discuss cross-cultural perspectives and innovative solutions for building a multilateral, collaborative and tech-driven paradigm for sustainable energy development.

    Participants in the World Youth Energy Tour (WYET) 2025 pose for a group picture, June 8, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

    “Youth are the architects, not just beneficiaries, of the energy transition,” said Kevin Tu, managing director of Agora Energy China and leading spokesperson of the event. “China’s experience proves young innovators drive breakthroughs, from AI-powered grids to offshore wind megaprojects.”

    The attending youth leaders also shared their insights on the event and energy issues through engaging picture stories, highlighting their unique experiences and innovative ideas.

    Participants in the World Youth Energy Tour (WYET) 2025 watch a presentation, June 8, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

    “Crisis cannot be overcome alone. Crisis needs teamwork,” noted Jose Renato Peneluppi, a Brazilian lawyer specializing in development policies and energy transition. He spoke highly of China’s energy progress in recent years and expressed hope for future energy collaboration between China and Brazil.

    Kaldybayev Dastan, a PhD student from Kazakhstan at Tsinghua University, praised China’s efforts in green infrastructure and its wind and solar power capacity. “The future of energy is green, smart and global. Together through collaboration and innovation, we can build the future,” he added.

    “I’m so grateful that China has supported us like our older brother. I’m so amazed and happy to see China is working very hard, leading globally in green initiatives,” said Umer Farooq Sansi, CEO of the Hunan Sansi Group and a contributor to China-Pakistan relations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Nicholas Pooran bows out of international cricket at 28

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran sent shockwaves through the cricketing world on Monday by announcing his retirement from international cricket across all formats. The unexpected move comes just days after South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen, another prominent figure in limited-overs cricket, also called time on his international career.

    Pooran hit 13 half-centuries in 106 Twenty20 Internationals and amassed 2,275 runs to become West Indies’ leading scorer in the shortest format.

    One of the world’s most explosive batters, the 29-year-old smashed 149 sixes in T20 Internationals to stand fifth overall.

    He served as West Indies’ limited overs skipper but gave up the captaincy after their first-round exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup.

    “This game we love has given and will continue to give so much – joy, purpose, unforgettable memories, and a chance to represent the people of the West Indies,” the Trinidadian said in a social media post on Monday.

    “Wearing that maroon, standing for the anthem, and giving everything I had each time I stepped on the field… it’s hard to put into words what that truly means to me.

    “To have led the team as captain is a privilege I will always hold close to my heart.”

    Pooran last played for West Indies in their 3-0 T20 series defeat by Bangladesh in December last year, while his most recent ODI appearance came in July 2023 against Sri Lanka.

    “Nicholas officially informed the leadership of his decision to retire from international cricket, bringing to a close a significant chapter in his career,” Cricket West Indies said in a statement.

    “His performances on the field and influence within the team have made a lasting impact on West Indies cricket.”

    Pooran opted to skip West Indies’ ongoing T20 series against England, requesting to be rested after playing for the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League.

    He is likely to remain active on the lucrative global T20 league circuit.

    (With agency input)

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: PSA welcomes Wellington mayoral candidate’s commitment to pay equity

    Source: PSA

    The union representing library workers at Wellington City Council welcomes mayoral candidate Andrew Little’s commitment to pay equity, and encourages all local body candidates to make the same commitment.
    “This is just the latest example of people across the political spectrum recognising the Government’s vandalism of the Equal Pay Act as an unjust attack on women,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary of the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
    “We call on the Council to fix the undervaluation it knows is there, and deliver pay equity to these workers.”
    “Local body candidates around the country have the chance to do the right thing and recognise the true value library workers bring to their communities.”
    “But this is no substitution for legislation that guarantees pay equity in full, with provisions for maintaining it. We will keep fighting to reverse the Government’s changes.”
    The PSA lodged the library workers’ pay equity claim with Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin councils in 2019.
    Since then, the PSA worked with the councils in good faith to reach a settlement.
    Library workers were one of the pay equity claims that was close to being settled before being cancelled by last month’s amendments to the Equal Pay Act.
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Rural News – Restrictions on carbon forestry long overdue – Federated Farmers

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers’ ‘Save our Sheep’ campaign has taken a major step forward this morning with the Government introducing legislation to stop carbon forestry on productive farmland.
    “This legislation is a really positive step forward – but from a farmer’s perspective, it’s long overdue,” says Federated Farmers meat & wool chair Toby Williams.
    “The Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture stood up on a stage in Gore at a Federated Farmers event on December 4 last year and announced these changes would be coming.
    “Since that announcement was made, farmers have been incredibly frustrated as we’ve watched tens of thousands of hectares of productive land continue to be planted in pines.
    “The Government have been very clear on their intention but a lack of action has caused huge uncertainty and heartache for farmers and rural communities.”
    The ‘Save our Sheep’ platform has been getting plenty of traction in recent weeks with a viral social media campaign and a strategically placed billboard directly opposite the Beehive.
    “The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has been screwing the scrum in favour of forestry over farming by subsidising pine trees to offset fossil fuel emissions,” Williams says.
    “These new restrictions will put the squeeze on wholesale pine planting driven by carbon returns but won’t hinder genuine production forestry or smaller farm woodlots.
    “Federated Farmers aren’t anti-forestry. Exotic trees have a place and a role to play when it comes to sensible land use and income diversification – but carbon forestry is out of control.”
    Williams says farmers will be raising serious questions about 15,000 hectares of LUC 6 farmland being allocated by a ballot process each year.
    “That is a huge amount of land still going into pine trees and that’s what farmers will currently be using as breeding country – we can’t afford to lose 150,000 hectares in the next decade.
    “You can’t plant that land in pine trees while maintaining a sustainable sheep industry. We would lose more than 750,000 breeding ewes if that were to happen.”
    Federated Farmers were more positive about the clause ensuring 25 per cent of LUC 1-6 land will be registered against the property’s title to restrict further planting as a result of subdivision.”
    Williams says Federated Farmers still has serious concerns about exploitation of loopholes and the impact of badly broken ETS rules on rural communities.
    “The statement from the Government today says the time-limited transitional exemptions under ‘intention to plant’ rules are for ‘rare cases’ only.
    “I’m not convinced these criteria are anywhere near tight enough, particularly when it comes to things like the purchase of seedlings when the forester didn’t already own the land to plant.
    “If you didn’t own the land with a clear intention to plant it for carbon forestry before the announcement on December 4 last year, you should told ‘sorry, but you’re out of luck’.”
    As the legislation is currently written, simply having purchased seedlings is enough to show intent even if they didn’t own land to plant them on.
    Federated Farmers says that is simply nonsense and needs to be changed.
    Alongside restriction on whole farm conversions to pine trees for carbon farming, Federated Farmers are also calling for sweeping reforms of the forestry sector.
    “Pine forests are breeding grounds for pests like pigs and deer that are causing huge issues for farmers and costing us a fortune,” Williams says.
    “To put it bluntly, foresters simply aren’t doing enough pest management to get the issue under control – and it’s time for the Government to step in.”
    Federated Farmers says urgent changes need to be made to the Overseas Investment Act.
    “Applications to purchase farmland to convert to forestry should be assessed under the farmland test rather than the general benefit to New Zealand test,” Williams says.
    “This would mean that applications from oversees investors to purchase land for forestry would be on an even playing field with other land purchases.
    “Some of the applications we’re seeing approved at the moment are absolutely appalling and will have little or no benefit for New Zealand or our rural communities.”
    Williams also wants to see changes to the ETS to end the ability of carbon dioxide emitters to offset 100 percent of their emissions with emissions units from carbon farming.
    New Zealand is the only country in the world that allows 100% carbon offsetting through forestry, with other countries recognising the risk and putting restrictions in place.
    Federated Farmers is now calling on the Government to urgently review the ETS and fix the rules to either limit or stop the offsetting of fossil fuel emissions with forestry.
    You can sign the petition pushing for change at www.saveoursheep.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Climate legal action necessary response to Govt inaction – CTU

    Source: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi

    The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi welcomes the legal action taken against the Minister of Climate Change by a coalition of legal experts as an important step in ensuring that Aotearoa meets its climate action obligations.

    “We strongly support legal action to ensure that the Government is held to account for its legal obligations under the Climate Change Response Act,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

    “The union movement is deeply concerned by the Emissions Reduction Plan 2026-2030, which contains no significant policies to reduce emissions and will fail to get New Zealand meaningfully closer to our 2050 net-zero commitment.

    “The actions – or lack of them – by this Government on climate change are the actions of climate deniers, not responsible leaders.

    “Workers and communities need real political leadership that combats global emissions and invests in creating a just transition for industries and workers. We need leadership that develops and upholds long term consensus, not more U-turns.

    “Instead, we have a government that cancelled 35 climate policies without consulting the public first, as required by law. Robust public engagement is essential.

    “Climate policy is yet another area where this Government is prioritising corporate interests over democratic accountability and the interests of working people.

    “Evidence is clear that a near-total focus on tree planting through vast pine forests is not a sufficient response – we must reduce emissions at source.

    “Alongside the weak emissions budget, in Budget 2025 we saw a total abdication of responsibility on climate change and ensuring a Just Transition for working people in an increasingly volatile world.

    “The NZCTU supports bold climate action to reduce emissions, adapt to the changing climate, and transition to a zero emissions economy that provides full employment for workers,” said Wagstaff.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Increase in COVID, flu and RSV in Victoria

    Source: FairTrading New South Wales

    Key messages

    • There is an increased risk of respiratory illnesses heading into the winter months.
    • Immunisations are available for many respiratory illnesses such as influenza (flu), COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It is never too late to get vaccinated.
    • Early antiviral treatments for influenza and COVID-19 can help to reduce severe disease for high-risk individuals.
    • Simple hygiene and preventive measures like covering coughs and sneezes, regular hand washing and staying home when unwell can help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses.

    What is the issue?

    There is an increased risk of respiratory illnesses heading into the winter months. In Victoria, the increase in COVID-19 cases between April and May this year was 2.5 times higher than the same time last year, and hospitalisations have been increasing. Flu and RSV cases are also increasing.

    Young children and older adults are particularly vulnerable to respiratory illnesses and may experience more severe illness requiring hospitalisation.

    Who is at risk?

    People most at risk of severe illness with respiratory conditions include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, children under the age of 5 years old, elderly people, pregnant women, those who are immunocompromised, and those with certain medical conditions including diabetes, cardiac disease and chronic respiratory conditions.

    While some people may be at a higher risk of severe illness, it is possible for anyone to be infected and become unwell.

    Symptoms and transmission

    Symptoms of respiratory illnesses such as flu, COVID-19 and RSV can be quite similar and include fever, coughing, sneezing, sore throat, runny nose, body aches and fatigue.

    These illnesses are very infectious and spread via droplets produced through coughing and sneezing, or by coming in close contact with infected people.

    Recommendations

    For the public

    There are some simple steps you can do to help protect yourself and others from severe illness.

    Immunisations are available for many respiratory illnesses including flu, COVID-19 and RSV. These can be accessed through GPs, pharmacies, local councils and Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations.

    Some Victorians may be eligible for free immunisations. For further information, talk to your doctor or visit:

    Other things you can do to keep yourself and others healthy include:

    • Wash or sanitise your hands thoroughly and regularly, particularly before and after touching your face
    • Cough or sneeze into your elbow
    • Stay home if you are unwell
    • Wear a face mask if you have symptoms or visiting sensitive settings, such as aged care facilities
    • Talk with your doctor now if you are at higher risk for complications from COVID-19 or the flu. Discuss what to do if you get sick, including testing options and whether you are eligible for antiviral treatment
    • If you experience serious symptoms, seek medical attention.

    For clinicians

    • Offer annual influenza vaccination to everyone aged 6 months and older.
    • Ensure those most at risk of severe illness are up to date with their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.
    • Offer Abrysvo® RSV vaccine to eligible pregnant women (28 to 36 weeks pregnancy) and nirsevimab (Beyfortus™) RSV monoclonal antibody to eligible infantsExternal Link. RSV vaccines are not approved for use in infants and children.
    • Discuss RSV vaccinationExternal Link options with older adults.
    • Encourage catch up vaccination for patients who are not up to date with routine immunisations.
    • Discuss early use of anti-viral treatment for flu and COVID-19 for high-risk individuals.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Money Market Operations as on June 09, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 5,80,215.04 5.22 0.01-6.55
         I. Call Money 14,727.29 5.30 4.75-5.40
         II. Triparty Repo 3,74,905.75 5.20 5.05-5.28
         III. Market Repo 1,86,432.00 5.25 0.01-6.25
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 4,150.00 5.48 5.39-6.55
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 79.40 5.27 5.05-5.30
         II. Term Money@@ 1,042.00 – 5.50-5.80
         III. Triparty Repo 1,925.00 5.26 5.20-5.30
         IV. Market Repo 1,395.17 5.27 1.00-5.44
         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 Mon, 09/06/2025 1 Tue, 10/06/2025 3,711.00 5.51
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Mon, 09/06/2025 1 Tue, 10/06/2025 2,123.00 5.75
    4. SDFΔ# Mon, 09/06/2025 1 Tue, 10/06/2025 2,58,855.00 5.25
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -2,53,021.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       8,321.86  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     8,321.86  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -2,44,699.14  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on June 09, 2025 9,32,180.72  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending June 13, 2025 9,41,551.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ June 09, 2025 3,711.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on May 16, 2025 3,48,763.00  
    @ 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.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2025-2026/517

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • Global stocks rise, dollar tentative ahead of US-China talks outcome

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Stocks were buoyant and the dollar remained on guard on Tuesday as trade talks between the United States and China were set to extend to a second day, with tentative signs tensions between the world’s two largest economies could be easing.
     
    U.S. President Donald Trump put a positive spin on the talks at Lancaster House in London, which wrapped up for the night on Monday and were set to resume at 0900 GMT on Tuesday.
     
    “The fact that we’re still up here near record highs, does suggest that we are seeing the market accept what has been said by Trump and when you look at some of the other comments from Lutnick and Bessent, to me it seems to suggest that they are relatively happy with the progress,” said Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG.
     
    “But the market always likes to see some concrete announcements.”
     
    As Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer were set to meet for the second day with their Chinese counterparts, much of investors’ focus has been on the progress of the talks.
     
    Any progress in the negotiations is likely to provide relief to markets given Trump’s chaotic tariffs and swings in Sino-U.S. trade ties have undermined the world’s two biggest economies and hobbled global growth.
     
    Stocks advanced in Asia, extending their rise from the start of the week.
     
    MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan advanced 0.5%, while Nasdaq futures gained 0.62%. S&P 500 futures edged 0.43% higher.
     
    EUROSTOXX 50 futures and FTSE futures both added roughly 0.1% each.
     
    In Tokyo, attention was also on the Japanese government bond (JGB) market, following news that Japan is considering buying back some super-long government bonds issued in the past at low interest rates.
     
    The yield on the 10-year JGB fell one basis point to 1.46% in early trade, while the 30-year yield slid 5 bps to 2.86%.
     
    Yields on super-long JGBs rose to record levels last month due to dwindling demand from traditional buyers such as life insurers, and jitters over steadily rising debt levels globally.
     
    “The volatility at the super-long segment of the curve stems from a supply-demand imbalance that has been brewing since the BOJ embarked on balance sheet normalisation,” said Justin Heng, APAC rates strategist at HSBC Global Investment Research.
     
    Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Tuesday the government will conduct appropriate debt management policies while communicating closely with market participants.
     
    In currencies, the dollar attempted to regain its footing after falling on Monday.
     
    Against the yen, the dollar was up 0.45% to 145.25. The euro fell 0.28% to $1.1387 while sterling slipped 0.2% to $1.3523.
     
    Trump’s erratic trade policies and worries over Washington’s growing debt pile have dented investor confidence in U.S. assets, in turn undermining the dollar, which has already fallen more than 8% for the year.
     
    The next test for the greenback will be on Wednesday, when U.S. inflation data comes due. Expectations are for core consumer prices to have picked up slightly in May, which could push back against bets of imminent Federal Reserve rate cuts.
     
    The producer price index (PPI) report will be released a day later.
     
    “May’s U.S. CPI and PPI data will be scrutinised for signs of lingering inflationary pressures,” said Convera’s FX and macro strategist Kevin Ford.
     
    “If core CPI remains elevated, expectations for rate cuts could be pushed beyond the June 18 FOMC meeting.”
     
    Traders see the Fed keeping rates on hold at its policy meeting next week, but have priced in roughly 44 bps worth of easing by December.
     
    In the oil market, prices edged up, with Brent crude futures gaining 0.24% to $67.20 a barrel. 
     
    U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was last up 0.25% at $65.45 per barrel after hitting a more than two-month high earlier in the session.
     
    Spot gold fell 0.5% to $3,310.40 an ounce.
     
    (Reuters)

  • K-pop megastars RM, V released from army, promise BTS reunion

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    K-pop supergroup BTS members RM and V were discharged from the South Korean military on Tuesday after mandatory service, as fans were counting down to the band’s comeback with more members finishing their national duty later this month.

    Cheered by dozens of fans near the military base, the two members in their army uniforms saluted the crowd and said they will soon be returning to perform.

    “To all the ARMYs who have waited for us in the military, I want to say I am truly, truly grateful. Please wait just a little longer and we will return with a really cool performance,” V said in front of fans and media. Known as ARMY, BTS has a global fan club with millions of loyal followers.

    Two other bandmates, Jin and J-Hope, were discharged from the military earlier and have been performing solo and appearing on variety shows.

    Jimin, Jung Kook and Suga are set to wrap their military service as late as June 21, media reports say.

    The globally recognised K-pop icon BTS has not released a group project since 2022 and its members are hoping for the reunion.

    “After pursuing our own little ventures, we are now coming back together, and I love that for us,” J-Hope told a magazine in December.

    Entertainment group HYBE, which manages BTS, is planning a huge event called BTS FESTA this week for fans to celebrate the band’s 12th anniversary. It is not clear whether the members will show up, but Jin attended last year.

    Shares in HYBE rose 2.3% as of 0211 GMT, hitting their highest point in more than three years.

    Holding a flower bouquet for their discharge from the army, RM said he wanted to perform the most.

    “(Members) would feel the same, but stage performance, I want to perform the most. I’ll work hard to make an album soon and come back to the stage,” RM said, after playing the sax for the crowd.

    Groupies from around the world flew in to South Korea to celebrate the return of their “life-changing” stars.

    “It is just absolutely joyful. That is now four out, two again tomorrow and then Suga. Then we have OT7, we have seven kings back with us,” said Philip Darbyshire, a 72-year-old Australian fan, referring to the band’s seven members.

    “It is just wonderful.”

    (Reuters)

  • US deploys Marines to Los Angeles as police break up fourth day of protests

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The U.S. military will temporarily deploy about 700 Marines to Los Angeles until more National Guard troops can arrive, marking another escalation in President Donald Trump’s response to street protests over his aggressive immigration policies.

    Tensions have been rising since Trump activated the National Guard on Saturday after street protests erupted in response to immigration raids in Southern California. It is the biggest flashpoint yet in the Trump administration’s aggressive efforts to deport migrants living in the country illegally.

    The announcement that marines would be deployed was made on the fourth straight day of protests. Late on Monday police began to disperse hundreds of demonstrators who gathered outside a federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles where immigrants have been held.

    National Guard forces had formed a human barricade to keep people out of the building. Then a phalanx of Los Angeles police moved up the street, starting to push people from the scene and firing “less lethal” munitions such as gas canisters. Police had used similar tactics since Friday.

    The LAPD said late on Monday afternoon that some protestors had started throwing objects at officers and the use of less lethal munitions had been authorized, adding in an X post: “Less lethal munitions may cause pain and discomfort.”

    California sued the Trump administration to block deployment of the National Guard and the Marines on Monday, arguing that it violates federal law and state sovereignty.

    U.S. Marines have been deployed domestically for major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the September 11, 2001, attacks, but it is extremely rare for U.S. military troops to be used for domestic policing.

    For now, the Trump administration was not invoking the Insurrection Act, which would allow troops to directly participate in civilian law enforcement, according to a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity.

    The Pentagon confirmed on Monday that a contingent of 2,000 National Guard troops would be doubled to 4,000. Trump said on Monday he felt he had no choice but to increase the level of force to prevent violence from spiraling out of control.

    Trump also said he supported a suggestion by his border czar Tom Homan that California Governor Gavin Newsom should be arrested over possible obstruction of his administration’s immigration enforcement measures. “I would do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great,” Trump told reporters.

    Democrats said Trump’s decision to deploy military force to handle the protests amounts to an abuse of presidential power, and California’s lawsuit claimed it was illegal.

    “The level of escalation is completely unwarranted, uncalled for, and unprecedented,” Newsom’s press office said on X.

    FOUR DAYS OF PROTESTS

    The protests so far have resulted in a few dozen arrests and some property damage, including some self-driving Waymo vehicles that were set ablaze on Sunday evening. The Los Angeles Police Department said five officers sustained minor injuries on Saturday and Sunday, as did five police horses used in crowd control.

    Before the police intervention on Monday, several hundred protesters chanted “free them all” outside the Los Angeles federal detention facility where immigrants have been held.

    “What is happening effects every American, everyone who wants to live free, regardless of how long their family has lived here,” said Marzita Cerrato, 42, a first-generation immigrant whose parents are from Mexico and Honduras.

    Some in the crowd punched and tossed eggs at a Trump supporter at the event, while others fired paintballs from a car at the federal building.

    Protests also sprang up in at least nine other U.S. cities on Monday, including New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco, according to local news outlets.

    The Trump administration has argued that Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration allowed far too many immigrants to enter the country and that Democratic-run cities such as Los Angeles are improperly interfering with efforts to deport them. Trump has pledged to deport record numbers of people who are in the country illegally and to lock down the U.S.-Mexico border, setting a goal of at least 3,000 daily arrests.

    Trump can deploy Marines under certain conditions of law or under his authority as commander in chief.

    The last time the military was used for direct police action under the Insurrection Act was in 1992, when the California governor at the time asked President George H.W. Bush to help respond to Los Angeles riots over the acquittal of police officers who beat Black motorist Rodney King.

    More than 50 people were killed in the 1992 riots, which also caused some $1 billion in damage over six days.

    Federal law allows the president to deploy the National Guard if the nation is invaded, if there is “rebellion or danger of rebellion,” or the president is “unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kelly, Democrats demand action on cost-of-living crisis, warn that Trump’s ‘One Big Ugly Bill’ will drive prices even higher

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

    Collegeville, PA – Today, the House Democratic Steering and Policy Co-Chairs, Congresswomen Robin Kelly (IL-02), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Nanette Barragán (CA-44), led a roundtable discussion with local leaders and stakeholders impacted by the Trump Tariffs and Republican threats to cut Medicaid and SNAP. Witnesses warned that the Republican ‘One Big Ugly Bill’ would only exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis for Pennsylvania’s working families.

    Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04) hosted the committee’s field hearing, and took testimony from community leaders who work directly helping people meet their basic needs to hear how the cost-of-living crisis would worsen with the Republican tax scam to slash Medicaid and food assistance while giving huge new tax breaks to billionaires.

    “At a time when families need stability, President Trump has thrown our economy into turmoil with reckless tariffs that continue to decimate retirement and college savings accounts,” said Dean. “Meanwhile, Trump and Republicans are pushing their ‘Big Ugly Bill,’ which will kick more than 300,000 Pennsylvanians off their healthcare and rip away food assistance from 140,000 of our neighbors. We should be fighting to lower costs for working families — not spiking prices and financing another tax break for the wealthy.”

    “President Trump promised to lower the cost of living on Day One. He lied,” said Kelly. “Instead, Americans are paying the cost of his shortsighted trade war at the checkout counter while Republicans in Congress attack food assistance and healthcare. This is a recipe for a cost-of-living disaster, yet Republicans’ solution is to give more tax breaks to the well-off and well-connected. I, alongside my Democratic colleagues, will continue to travel across the country to hear directly from the American people and bring their concerns back to Washington with real solutions.” 

    “Republicans are not interested in making life more affordable for American families. Trump’s One, Big, Ugly bill will take away food and rental assistance, and life-saving health care from millions of Americans,” said Barragán. “House Republicans have refused to work with Democrats to deliver solutions that support hardworking Americans. Seniors, children, and veterans will bear the burden of higher costs of food, healthcare, and housing while Trump’s billionaire donors get richer.”

    “Grocery checkout lines and the fear of falling ill are still major sources of financial anxiety for families, yet the Republican response is to give the wealthiest Americans a tax break windfall and pay for it by taking affordable health care and food assistance from millions of people. It’s a cruel, deplorable and fiscally irresponsible response, and we heard that message loud and clear today in Pennsylvania,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Far from lowering costs, Trump’s chaotic economic policies are driving recessionary fears, and Republicans’ ‘Big Ugly Bill’ would steal health care from 16 million Americans and deny food assistance to millions more. The net effect makes life even harder for paycheck-to-paycheck workers.”

    The Steering and Policy Committee has gone on the road to hear from the American people, convening a town hall in California and a hearing in Virginia exposing the extreme Republican agenda. The Steering and Policy Committee will continue to travel the nation in the months ahead to reach the American people where they live and hear from them directly. 

    The full video of today’s hearing can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kelly announces Rep. Kiggans as new Co-Chair of Bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) announced Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) as the new Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus for the 119th Congress. The caucus works to advance bipartisan maternal health policy goals that save lives from pregnancy-related deaths.

    “I am honored to announce Rep. Kiggans as my partner on the Bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus. Improving maternal health outcomes is not and should not be a political issue,” said Rep. Kelly. “Mothers from every corner of the country — whether they live in urban, suburban, or rural areas — deserve the affordable and accessible healthcare they need to thrive. Black mothers in particular face health inequities that we need to address on a policy level. The Bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus will continue to lead the way in legislation that save mothers.”

    “As a nurse practitioner, Navy veteran, and mom of four, I know how critical it is to ensure women receive high-quality, compassionate care throughout pregnancy and beyond,” said Rep. Kiggans. “I’m honored to join Rep. Kelly in leading the Bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus, where we’ll work together to support mothers, strengthen families, and find commonsense solutions to the maternal health challenges facing our country. This isn’t a partisan issue — it’s a matter of life, health, and dignity for women and babies.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Targeted willow control in Ahuriri catchment

    Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council

    Date:

    Work programme protects waterways and wetland health

    Waterway management and wetland health is a primary focus of the work in the Ahuriri Catchment in the Upper Waitaki. The aim is to protect the ongoing health of Lake Benmore as well as identify and protect wetlands in the area. 

    “Wilding willows draw a huge amount of water, so where we have them invading wetlands and slow-flowing streams, they can reduce freshwater availability and degrade habitats,” said Jess Hishon-Knowles, senior land management advisor for the Mackenzie Basin and Upper Waitaki.

    “That’s why it was important to be mindful of the issues at play and get control under way.”

    Collaboration with landowners key

    Targeted spraying work was done by helicopter over a single day in late summer, just as trees were beginning to turn in the dry conditions. Plans were developed in collaboration with landowners, focusing on early-stage wilding willow seedlings. By the end of the day, more than 270 hectares had been sprayed across seven farms.

    “This was about targeting areas where wilding willows are a threat to biodiversity and water quality and supporting landowners who are already invested in improving the health of waterways,” said Hishon-Knowles.

    “The timing aligned well with work already happening through the Wairepo Catchment Group and their restoration project around the Wairepo Ponds.”

    The Wairepo Ponds are small man-made lakes joined to Lake Ruataniwha, a lake south of Twizel that forms part of the Waitaki hydroelectric scheme.

    Targeted aerial spraying of willow trees was undertaken in collaboration with landowners

    Willow control a balancing act

    Willow control remains a balancing act for us, with some willow varieties used in a managed way for erosion and flood protection.

    “Achieving the ideal outcome usually comes down to one simple principle—the right tree in the right place,” said Hishon-Knowles.

    Vegetation clearance in wetlands is a permitted activity, however, there are regulations and best practice guidelines that need to be followed, especially for aerial spraying.

    For any property owners in the Ahuriri and Upper Waitaki area looking to do this type of work, please contact Jess Hishon-Knowles, senior land management advisor.

    Environment Canterbury © 2025
    Retrieved: 3:29pm, Tue 10 Jun 2025
    ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/zone-news/upper-waitaki/targeted-willow-control-in-ahuriri-catchment/

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Fatal crash at Randalls Bay, south of Cygnet

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Fatal crash at Randalls Bay, south of Cygnet

    Tuesday, 10 June 2025 – 1:10 pm.

    Sadly, a 59-year-old man has died following a crash at Randalls Bay on Sunday afternoon.
    Initial inquiries indicate the man was travelling on the Channel Highway between Randalls Bay Road and Lowes Road in a silver Ford Falcon about 4pm, when he lost control of the vehicle and struck a power pole.
    Two passengers in the vehicle received minor injuries, and sadly the driver has since died in hospital.
    It is not believed that any other vehicle was involved in the collision.
    Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
    Anyone with information, or relevant dash cam footage, is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au.
    Information can be provided anonymously.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Motorists urged to be safe on the roads following several traffic operations across North West Tasmania

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Motorists urged to be safe on the roads following several traffic operations across North West Tasmania

    Tuesday, 10 June 2025 – 1:24 pm.

    Police in North West Tasmania are reminding all motorists of the dangers of engaging in risky behaviours on the roads, following several traffic operations conducted across the region over the long weekend.
    “Western Road Policing Services conducting seven traffic operations in North West Tasmania over the King’s Birthday long weekend, from Latrobe to Arthur River/West Coast areas, and while no drink drivers were detected, it’s concerning some motorists continue to engage in dangerous behaviours on our roads,” said Acting Inspector Martin Parker.
    During the operations police detected:

    2x drivers who returned a positive result on an oral fluid test
    3x motorists failing to wear seatbelt
    3x motorists driving while using a mobile phone
    32x drivers exceeding the speed limit
    4x defect vehicles
    2x unaccompanied learners
    1x unregistered motor vehicle
    2x unlicensed driver
    1x disqualified driver
    1x inattentive driver.
    An 18-year-old man from Upper Burnie who allegedly evaded police on Old Bass Highway at Wynyard on Saturday morning. He was charged with evading police and driving whilst not the holder of a driver licence and will appear in court.

    “While it was pleasing no drink drivers were detected during the traffic operations, it is concerning that some drivers are engaging in risky driving behaviours including driving under the influence of illicit drugs, speeding, failing to wear seatbelts and using mobile phones while driving,” said Acting Inspector Martin Parker.
    “It is also disappointing that people are driving while disqualified, driving without a driver licence or disobeying the conditions of their licence.”
    “Risky driving behaviours increase the likelihood of serious and fatal crashed occurring on our roads.”
    “There are very real consequences for breaking the road rules, which could be a fine or loss of licence, or worse, serious injury or death from a crash.”
    “I urge every motorist to do the right thing every time they travel on the roads, to help keep everyone safe.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Exercise Southern Steel Fans Flames of U.S.-RNZAF Military Partnership

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    NEW ZEALAND — In a first-of-its-kind bilateral exercise, U.S. Air Force Air National Guard and Royal New Zealand Air Force Aviation Rescue Firefighters participated in Exercise Southern Steel, a high-octane exercise focused on enhancing emergency response interoperability and the Five Eyes alliance.

    MIL Security OSI –