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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI China: UN honors 168 personnel who died in line of duty last year

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

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C, Front) and Philemon Yang (L, Front), president of the UN General Assembly, light a candle during an annual memorial service at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The United Nations (UN) on Thursday paid tribute to 168 of its personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2024.

    “We honor those who gave everything in the pursuit of peace, justice, and human dignity,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the annual memorial service held at the UN Headquarters in New York.

    The fallen included military, police, and civilian personnel from 31 countries. Among them were 125 staff members from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), some of whom were killed along with their families.

    Speaking to reporters earlier Thursday, Guterres noted that more than one in every 50 UNRWA staff members in Gaza had been killed in the conflict, marking the highest staff death toll in UN history.

    “Recent years have been devastating for the UN family. We have suffered unspeakable and unprecedented losses in Gaza,” he said at the memorial.

    The UN chief renewed his call for “full accountability” for the deaths.

    “The women and men we honor today embodied the very essence of our mission. They were driven by the cause of peace, by the need to alleviate human suffering, and to ensure dignity for all,” he said. “They were teachers, engineers, doctors, and administrators. They were military, police and civilian personnel. They were humanitarians, peacekeepers, and peacemakers and so much more.”

    When conflict erupted, they worked for peace. When violence and disasters hit, they provided life-saving assistance. When human rights were trampled, they lifted people up. And when the vulnerable needed help, they worked to ensure no one was left behind, he said.

    “Our work is far more than just a job. It is a calling. All our fallen colleagues answered the call to serve humanity. They did so in their own ways — without fanfare — and with determination,” he said. “They represented humanity in action. At a time when some may question international cooperation or the very notion of multilateralism, we would all do well to remember these lives taken far too soon.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: South Africa unveils plan to tackle climate change in coastal areas

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

    A man works at the Extrupet plastic recycling center in Wadeville, near Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    To mark World Environment Day, South Africa on Thursday unveiled its inaugural Coastal Climate Change Adaptation Response Plan, a strategic initiative to enhance resilience in coastal areas facing climate threats.

    Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Dion George said the initiative aligns with South Africa’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and supports the country’s ocean economy goals while safeguarding critical sectors like tourism and fisheries.

    “This plan provides a strategic framework to guide national, provincial, and local government efforts in building coastal resilience. It emphasizes the importance of protecting coastal communities, infrastructure, and natural systems through proactive planning, risk-informed development, and collaborative governance,” said George.

    The minister called on all sectors, government, business, civil society, and individuals, to join hands in implementing the plan.

    “By aligning climate adaptation with economic development, South Africa can build a thriving, inclusive, and climate-resilient blue economy that benefits both people and the planet,” he said.

    South Africa’s coastline is facing growing climate challenges that threaten coastal communities, key economic sectors, critical infrastructure, and ecosystems.

    Scientific projections indicate worsening impacts such as accelerated sea-level rise, intensifying coastal erosion, and more frequent severe storms that trigger destructive flooding and forced displacement of vulnerable residents. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Portugal’s new government sworn in

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

    Luis Montenegro addresses an inauguration ceremony of the new government in Lisbon, Portugal, on June 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Luis Montenegro, leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and head of the Democratic Alliance (AD), was officially sworn in as Portugal’s new prime minister on Thursday. The 16 ministers of the new cabinet also took their oaths of office.

    At the inauguration ceremony, Montenegro pledged to “continue serving the country,” vowed to “declare war on bureaucracy,” and committed to advancing state reforms, maintaining political stability, and boosting social productivity. He also emphasized the government’s intention to engage with the opposition and promote dialogue and cooperation.

    President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said the election result reflected increased political confidence in Montenegro, but stressed that the public had not granted the government “absolute trust.” He noted that the influence of traditional parties is waning while new political forces are emerging — a shift that, although arriving late in Portugal, has not bypassed the country.

    Compared to the previous administration, the vast majority of key ministers have retained their posts. The number of ministries has been reduced from 17 to 16, with the Ministry of Economy merged with the Ministry of Territorial Cohesion, and the Ministry of Culture combined with the former Ministry of Youth and Modernization to form the new Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

    The most notable change is the creation of a new Ministry for State Reform. Goncalo Matias has been appointed as both minister adjunct to the prime minister and minister for state reform.

    At the PSD’s national council meeting last week, Montenegro described the “modernization of public administration” as the “cornerstone” of the next government’s policy agenda.

    The new cabinet was sworn in just 18 days after the election, marking the fastest cabinet formation under President Rebelo de Sousa.

    The parliament will debate and vote on the new government’s program on June 17 and 18. According to the Portuguese Constitution, the government can only fully assume its duties after the program is approved by the Assembly of the Republic. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China handles rare earth exports in accordance with laws

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

    The Chinese government reviews applications for rare earth export licences in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, and approves compliant applications, China’s commerce ministry said Thursday.

    Ministry spokesperson He Yongqian made the remarks in response to a journalist query regarding China’s rare earth export licensing.

    Rare earths and related items have obvious dual-use attributes as they can be used for both military and civilian purposes, the spokesperson said, noting that imposing export controls on these items is a common international practice. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s central bank to conduct 1-trillion-yuan outright reverse repo operation

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

    The People’s Bank of China (PBOC), the country’s central bank, said Thursday that it will conduct a 1-trillion-yuan (about 139 billion U.S. dollars) outright reverse repo operation on Friday to maintain ample liquidity in the banking system.

    The operation will carry a three-month tenor and be conducted using a fixed-quantity, interest-rate-bidding and multiple-price-bidding method, according to the PBOC statement.

    The move is expected to ensure sufficient liquidity in the banking system, keep fluctuations in money markets under control and anchor market expectations, said Wang Qing, chief macro analyst at Golden Credit Rating.

    He added that stepped-up medium-term liquidity injections signal a broader use of quantitative tools to bolster counter-cyclical regulation.

    Outright reverse repo operations — a tool the central bank introduced in October 2024 to manage liquidity in the banking system — are carried out once each month with a tenor of no more than a year.

    This new option has enriched the country’s monetary policy toolkit following the introduction of temporary repos, temporary reverse repos, and the buying and selling of treasury bonds. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s 1,000-kW-class civil turboshaft engine obtains production license

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

    This photo taken on June 5, 2025 shows an AES100 engine displayed at the review meeting on the engine’s development work in Zhuzhou City, central China’s Hunan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    A civil turboshaft engine, primarily designed for helicopters, has obtained its production license and secured a sales contract, laying a solid foundation for the growth of low-altitude equipment, Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) announced on Thursday.

    The AES100 engine represents China’s first independently developed 1,000-kW-class advanced civil turboshaft engine, achieving full compliance with international airworthiness standards.

    The granting of this production license signifies China’s capability to independently develop and manufacture advanced civil turboshaft engines, said Li Gaiqi, chief designer of the AES100 engine.

    He noted that this achievement is of great importance to the AES100 engine in serving the low-altitude economy and supporting the general aviation industry.

    The engine can maintain stable operations in complex conditions, including icy, heavy rain and strong electromagnetic environments. It has a high safety level, excellent cost-effectiveness and broad environmental adaptability, with outstanding performances in key indicators such as energy efficiency and service life, reaching internationally advanced levels, according to the AECC.

    It can be used in 5-to-6-tonne twin-engine helicopters and 3-to-4-tonne single-engine helicopters, as well as tiltrotor aircraft and other aerial vehicles, and can undertake missions in such areas as transport, sightseeing, patrols and rescue operations.

    The engine production license is a document issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China to authorize manufacturers to produce civil aviation engines in accordance with approved designs, quality assurance systems and technical management systems. It is a critical qualification in the aircraft manufacturing sector. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China cuts 300 billion yuan in electricity access costs over 5 years

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

    Nearly five years after China issued a guideline in 2020 to improve electricity access, the country has cut related costs by over 300 billion yuan (US$42 billion), said Song Hongkun, deputy administrator of the National Energy Administration, on Thursday.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sabalenka ends Swiatek’s reign in thriller, Gauff eases into final

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

    World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka ended champion Iga Swiatek’s dream of lifting her fifth Roland Garros title with a 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-0 win in their semifinal clash on Thursday.

    Sabalenka was behind at 1-5 in her head-to-head record with Swiatek entering the match but exhibited the dominant form that made her the current world No. 1.

    It took Sabalenka two hours and 19 minutes to snap Pole Swiatek’s 26-match winning streak at the event.

    Aryna Sabalenka returns a shot during the women’s singles semifinal between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Iga Swiatek of Poland at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros, Paris, France, June 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

    “I’m super happy with the win today and beating Iga at Roland Garros,” said the Belarusian. “It’s just something unbelievable and something I’m super proud of, and yeah, just happy to get through this difficult match.”

    The 27-year-old will next face world No. 2 Coco Gauff in the final – the first final showdown in a decade between the top two ranked players for the French Open title.

    Gauff breezed past French wild card Lois Boisson in the second semifinal 6-1, 6-2 to advance to the final for a second time.

    The 2022 finalist will bid for her second Grand Slam title, having won the US Open in 2023 over Sabalenka over three sets.

    “My first final here I was super nervous, and I kind of wrote myself off before the match even happened,” said Gauff. “Obviously here I have a lot more confidence just from playing a Grand Slam final before and doing well in one. Yeah, I think going into Saturday I’ll just give it my best shot and try to be as calm and relaxed as possible.”

    US Open champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori became the first Italian pair since 1958 to win the French Open mixed doubles, beating Americans Taylor Townsend and Evan King 6-4, 6-2.

    In the women’s wheelchair quarterfinals, China’s Li Xiaohui brushed aside Ksenia Chasteau of France 6-2, 6-1 before she combined with compatriot Wang Ziying to defeat France’s Pauline Deroulede and Aniek Van Koot of the Netherlands 4-6, 7-5, 10-5 to advance into the women’s wheelchair doubles final.

    Friday’s main focus will be on the two men’s semifinals, where defending champion Carlos Alcaraz takes on Lorenzo Musetti on Chatrier, followed by Novak Djokovic against Jannik Sinner. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Rise of ‘painless’ tourism set to transform China’s travel landscape

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

    An undated aerial drone photo shows tourists “Wimp Rafting” in Mao’er Mountain Scenic Area, Guilin, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua)

    For Chen Zhixin and his family, this year’s mountaineering trip at the Panwang Realm scenic spot in the Dayao Mountains, a tourist attraction reaching about 1,000 meters above sea level in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, felt like a leisurely stroll compared to what they had experienced in the past.

    “No trekking up the steep and winding path toward the peak,” said Chen. “And this did not prevent us from enjoying the awe-inspiring sights that nature has to offer at every turn.”

    In a welcome twist to traditional mountaineering, where stunning views often come at the cost of a grueling hike, this scenic area in the Dayao Mountains, which was reopened earlier this year after being retrofitted with all kinds of amenities, has been designed to take strain off the legs of visitors.

    This upgrade also allows guests to try out more adventurous options like via ferrata, a climbing route equipped with steel cables, iron rungs and ladders fixed to rock surfaces, as well as high-altitude trampolining.

    Now, the journey to the top of the mountain begins with a 1,650-meter long cable car ride, followed by a smooth 8,000-meter walk along a flat trail which provides visitors with an almost effortless ascent to a couple of 100-meter-high sightseeing elevators, which then carry them to the place where they could nearly touch the lotus-shaped peak.

    From “easy” hiking trails equipped with cable cars and escalators to drifting along gentle rivers via an inflatable vest, the emergence of “painless” tourism, a new trend lauded by many for offering stress-free ways to cut loose, has quietly redefined the way tourists venture outdoors and made nature’s splendor more accessible to a wider range of travelers, regardless of age or physical capabilities.

    “This is the first time I’ve left my footprints on multiple peaks without feeling completely worn out,” exclaimed Zhang Xiaoyu, a travel enthusiast in his 30s from Shanghai in east China, as he and his family wrapped up their visit to Panwang. “And the best part is that neither the kids nor the grandparents had a single complaint during the whole trip.”

    “The idea of making these innovations goes beyond catering to people with special needs,” said Huang Meiling, the area’s general manager. “We expect our barrier-free infrastructure to broaden the appeal of the place and attract anyone looking for a more comfortable outing, thereby boosting its popularity and revenue.”

    “Painless” mountain climbing has evolved from being a mere novelty to an approach that has been increasingly adopted by scenic areas and tourist attractions across China.

    On rednote, a popular Chinese lifestyle app, posts with the hashtag “painless hiking” has been viewed over 3.6 million times, with users sharing photos and videos of amenities-assisted travel in places like Shaanxi in northwest China, Zhejiang in east China and Hunan in central China.

    “Increased accessibility lowers the bar for mountain tourism, making it more friendly for all ages,” said Huang.

    While some mountains can be tamed with tech-laden installations, some waterways have been repurposed for “do-nothing” staycations.

    Rafting, which is usually associated with adrenaline-pumping thrills, has been revamped by Guangxi’s Mao’er Mountain Scenic Area with the launch of its “Wimp Rafting” option last year. In this laid-back experience, participants, donning essential safety gear, can simply lie flat, allowing the gentle current of the river to carry them along.

    Social media has been abuzz with rave reviews about its “super chill vibe,” propelling this once-niche destination to attract over 10,000 visitors in 2024, with a daily peak of 300 visitors.

    “We came up with this unorthodox format by tapping into people’s craving for therapeutic travel experiences,” said Huang Jin, a deputy general manager of the scenic area. “The zero-skill, zero-stress, low-risk nature of such an activity perfectly aligns with the growing demand for ‘painless’ tourism.”

    The success of “Wimp Rafting” has inspired similar projects in many places in Guangxi and beyond, breathing new life into lesser-known destinations and signaling a broader shift toward more relaxed outdoor adventures.

    According to a recent market research report, this trend in outdoor recreation has held steady across all demographics — showing an expanding market that has been able to meet the increasingly sophisticated demands of the public.

    Data from LY.COM, a leading Chinese online booking platform, reveals that in the first half of 2024, outdoor-related orders had surged by 59.78 percent compared with the same period a year earlier.

    However, the rise of “no pain” tourism has raised eyebrows among some industry experts, due to concerns about how such developments may affect the authenticity of the experiences offered.

    “It can come across as a bit ‘inorganic,’” said Guan Zhiyuan, a seasoned travel agent based in the tourist hub of Guilin in Guangxi. “There is a risk it could potentially prevent tourists from experiencing the raw beauty of nature and the visceral joy of hiking in its original form.”

    Guan prefers a more balanced and thoughtful solution that allows guests to “easily” soak in the amazing views up close while also protecting delicate ecosystems from over-development, like the sedan chair hiring service at Reed Flute Cave, a famous limestone cave in Guilin.

    “Building a wheelchair accessible route inside the cave was initially proposed, but it was vetoed by the local authorities,” said Guan. “Instead, they opted for a more sustainable practice by hiring locals to help ferry physically challenged visitors on the trek.”

    Dai Bin, president of China Tourism Academy, suggested that the industry should pivot toward developing new forms of tourism experiences in the future — including green tourism, ecotourism and educational tourism.

    “Only by fulfilling public demand for high-quality, diverse and personalized experiences, can a virtuous cycle of ‘demand driving supply and supply generating new demand’ be formed,” said Dai. 

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s efforts on environment inspire countries

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

    China Daily | June 6, 2025

    In Minchinabad, Pakistan’s Punjab province, Muhammad Basit Ghauri, a keen observer of the country’s energy transition, is excited about the progress made there.

    Nearly every home, public building, shop and mosque in the city is adorned with glistening solar panels, many of which were imported from China. This scene was something Ghauri didn’t expect to see in areas so far away from major cities, but the sight of solar panels is becoming ever more common in Pakistan.

    “What used to be a luxury — solar energy — has now become a practical solution for the lower-middle and even lower income households,” said Ghauri, who works for Renewables First, a Pakistani think tank, in an interview ahead of World Environment Day, which fell on Thursday.

    As China pioneers the development of an ecological civilization, the ripple effects of the unwavering commitment of the world’s largest developing nation have extended far beyond its borders, notably benefiting other developing countries like Pakistan.

    Experts and officials are envisioning greener, more sustainable futures for countries in the Global South, drawing inspiration from China’s pioneering advancements in environmental and climate initiatives.

    This resonates strongly with one of the key tenets of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, which emphasizes China’s commitment to jointly promote the construction of a global ecological civilization and get deeply involved in global environmental governance, in order to come up with a worldwide solution for environmental protection and sustainable development.

    For Ghauri, the ongoing energy transition in Pakistan has primarily been propelled by the declining costs of solar energy and the increasing prices of electricity from the country’s unreliable grid, with solar panels from China playing a crucial role in facilitating this shift.

    Pakistan purchased some 16 gigawatts of solar panels from China last year at a cost of more than $2 billion, Ghauri said.

    According to the International Energy Agency, China accounts for approximately 80 percent of global solar photovoltaic module manufacturing and has driven a more than 80 percent reduction in the price of solar panels over the past decade.

    Ghauri said that instead of just importing its solar products, Pakistan can also learn from China’s experiences in developing its solar energy industry.

    “No one has built a stronger solar supply chain than China. They dominate global manufacturing not by accident, but through smart investments and a long-term strategy,” he said.

    Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif visited China in December, engaging in an in-depth discussion with Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu.

    While praising China’s significant achievements in air pollution control, Sharif expressed a sincere desire to strengthen communication and collaboration with China on air quality management, the renewable energy industry and low-carbon development, according to the ministry.

    In interviews with China Daily during the COP29 United Nations climate change conference in Azerbaijan late last year, the environment ministers of Cambodia and Nigeria also expressed their hopes of learning from China’s experiences to advance environmental and climate initiatives in their respective countries.

    Eang Sophalleth, Cambodia’s minister for the environment, said: “China has been through so much in the past 20 years. Those experiences are very rich. Cambodia is going through the same phase of developing. And with that experience, it can help us to minimize the impact on the environment in Cambodia.”

    Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Nigeria’s minister for the environment, underscored that there is significant potential for China to assist developing nations in addressing their climate challenges.

    “China is a country that understands what we are going through because they have gone through it,” he said.

    Dimitri de Boer, director for China at ClientEarth, an environmental law organization, said there is a major opportunity for developing countries to learn from how China is moving toward green and low-carbon development.

    While China has enjoyed impressive economic growth, with people’s living standards having improved significantly, the country has also experienced significant environmental improvement in the past decade, he said.

    “Air pollution dropped by more than half, surface water quality is much better, and cities are becoming greener. China’s carbon emissions are starting to plateau, even while power demand continues to increase every year,” he said.

    De Boer emphasized China’s potential to collaborate with other developing nations in advancing their green and low-carbon development initiatives.

    Solar and wind power are now often more affordable than fossil fuels, with their cost continuing to drop, and electric vehicles are becoming very competitive, de Boer said.

    “Countries with a decent level of industrialization could be very well placed to start producing these green technologies in their countries, providing major new business and employment opportunities,” he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Schrier’s Legislation to Improve Hydropower Relicensing Transparency, Support Clean Energy Production Passes Energy Subcommittee

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier’s M.D. (WA-08) bipartisan bill, the Hydropower Relicensing Transparency Act (H.R. 3657), passed through the Energy Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. This bill will support clean, reliable, and affordable energy for Washington state ratepayers by enhancing efficiency and transparency for all parties involved in the hydropower dam relicensing process. Hydropower dams must relicense their dams with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in order to continue operating a facility every 30 to 50 years.  Congresswoman Schrier introduced this bill alongside Congressman Russ Fulcher (ID-01).

    “Over half of the energy produced in Washington State comes from hydropower, making it an essential part of our state’s economy, future, and clean energy goals,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “Chip manufacturing and data center expansion are driving energy demand through the roof, and it’s critical that we meet the moment. By providing transparency on the hydropower dam relicensing process, we can better inform all parties and streamline the process. I’m thrilled to work with both parties on this to bring this closer to the President’s desk.”

    “Hydropower is an essential and dependable baseload energy source for the Northwest,” said Congressman Fulcher. “I am proud to support the Hydropower Relicensing Transparency Act, H.R. 3657, with my colleague Representative Kim Schrier of Washington. This legislation requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to report annually—rather than every three years—on its progress in getting crucial hydropower facilities relicensed. FERC has not demonstrated its ability to license and relicense facilities in a timely manner to meet the growing demands of the region and support this clean energy. More congressional oversight is needed to increase transparency, address bottlenecks, and help ensure applicants can move through FERC’s process more efficiently.”

    According to a DOE report, FERC relicensing activity is set to more than double in the coming decade. On average, relicensing a hydropower facility takes between seven to ten years to complete. This legislation will help maintain resource adequacy in the Pacific Northwest by requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to provide an annual report to Congress on the status of the relicensing process for each application for a renewed hydropower dam license. The bill now moves to the Full Committee of Energy and Commerce for consideration. 

    “The Hydropower Relicensing Transparency Act is a commonsense, bipartisan step toward greater accountability and public trust in how our rivers are managed,” said Thomas O’Keefe, PhD, Director of Policy and Science, American Whitewater. “By requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to provide annual updates on the status of pending hydropower relicensing proceedings, this bill empowers communities, Tribes, resource agencies, and stakeholders with the information they need to ensure that these critical decisions reflect today’s environmental values, energy priorities, and public interests.” 

    “I thank Rep. Schrier and the Energy Subcommittee of E&C for advancing this important legislation for the hydropower industry. At a time of rising energy demand, we need to protect as much clean energy as we can,” said Malcolm Woolf, President and CEO of the National Hydropower Association. “Hydropower can help ensure Americans’ electricity is reliable and affordable for decades to come, but it’s hampered by a prohibitively long, costly, and disorganized relicensing process that could ultimately take many GW of energy off the grid. This bill is a good first step to ensuring a more transparent regulatory process, and we urge the full House to pass it swiftly.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Schrier, Ranking Member Pallone introduce Legislation to Protect Children and Mothers, Strengthen our Nation’s Vaccine Infrastructure

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) introduced the Family Vaccine Protection Act to remove politics from the life-saving immunization schedule, stand up to RFK Jr.’s dangerous anti-vaccine actions, and protect children, expectant mothers, and other vulnerable members of the community from vaccine-preventable diseases.

    “Our current Secretary of Health and Human Services continues to undermine science and peddle conspiracy theories. This nation’s physicians and public health system have relied upon the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) for 61 years to evaluate scientific evidence, ask questions, and ultimately make a determination about whether to recommend a vaccine and for whom. This bill ensures that physicians and other scientific experts are the ones who evaluate those studies and make those decisions, as has always been the case. Recent efforts to undermine the ACIP by pressuring physicians like Dr. Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos to parrot RFK Jr. talking points have unfortunately made this bill necessary,” said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. “I will continue to stand up for scientific integrity and fight RFK Jr.’s peddling of conspiracy theories.”

    “Secretary Kennedy is governing by conspiracy theory and putting the health of our children at risk,” said Ranking Member Pallone. “After just a few months in office, he’s already broken the promise he made during his Senate confirmation hearing to not interfere with the lifesaving childhood vaccine schedule. He’s simultaneously presided over the largest measles outbreak in decades while actively undermining vaccination efforts for COVID-19, measles, polio, and the flu—especially for pregnant women and the tiniest infants, two of the highest risk populations. Enough is enough—it’s time to take politics out of medicine and ensure all families have access to affordable life-saving vaccines. Dr. Schrier and I are introducing this legislation to keep Secretary Kennedy’s conspiracy theories out of the doctor’s office and to protect moms and their kids.”

    The Family Vaccine Protection Act comes on the heels of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s unilateral withdrawal of COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women. This reckless decision—circumventing science-based approval—begins a slippery slope toward a sicker America where Kennedy alone decides what’s best for American children.

    For months, RFK, Jr.’s HHS and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have ignored science-based recommendations by the independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In April, ACIP voted unanimously to expand its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine recommendation and to provide a meningococcal vaccine to healthy teens and college-aged kids—but Kennedy ignored these recommendations. These actions are setting a dangerous precedent and jeopardizing access through critical programs like the Vaccines for Children program.

    Secretary Kennedy is actively backtracking on his own promise in November 2024 that he wouldn’t “take away anybody’s vaccines” and contradicting his own Food and Drug Administration’s framework. His brazen undermining of ACIP’s independence and persistent spreading of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories threatens decades of public health progress—and will put the lives of pregnant women and unvaccinated infants at risk. 

    The Family Vaccine Protection Act protects access to affordable vaccines by: 

    • Codifying current practices of a rigorous, science-based system for recommending vaccines:
      • This bill sets a timeline for new vaccine consideration by ACIP and requires that both the CDC Director and HHS Secretary adopt such recommendations if supported by a preponderance of scientific evidence.
    • Strengthening the independence of the Advisory Committee:
      • This bill writes the role of ACIP into statute and specifies its structure, its membership selection processes, meeting frequency, and expertise requirements—protecting it from dissolution or undue interference by the HHS Secretary.
    • Keeping politics out of medicine by ensuring the Secretary cannot unilaterally make or withdraw vaccine recommendations contrary to the advice of scientific experts:
      • This bill requires the HHS Secretary to adopt the official vaccine decision as set by ACIP—and if the Secretary chooses to depart from an ACIP recommendation, it requires the Secretary to publish the basis for the agency action, including an explanation as to how the action is supported by the best available, peer-reviewed scientific evidence.
    • Establishing guardrails to ensure vaccines remain accessible to all:
      • This bill protects the role of ACIP in making immunization recommendations for the Vaccines for Children Program as well as for the purposes of cost-free coverage of vaccines by health insurance plans—ensuring continued widespread access to life-saving vaccines.

    The Family Vaccine Protection Act has received the support of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Public Health Association, Infectious Disease Society of America, and Vaccinate Your Family.

    Read the full bill text HEREand a section-by-section summary HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Men’s Health Week: Strong for Life, Not Just for Looks

    Source: ExerciseNZ

    As Men’s Health Week (9–15 June) approaches, ExerciseNZ is calling on men across Aotearoa to rethink strength, not just in terms of muscle, but in how we care for our bodies, minds, and futures.

    New global research published in European Heart Journal has raised concerns about the heart health of men who overindulge in strength-based training, especially those focused primarily on bodybuilding, often using extreme training methods or performance-enhancing substances. While the findings are serious, they also present a valuable opportunity to shine a light on a more sustainable and empowering path to health and fitness. Men’s Health Week reminds us that small, consistent steps make a big difference. ExerciseNZ CEO Richard Beddie says: “It’s not about pushing hard, it’s about being consistent, staying safe, and building strength for the right reasons.”

    Why Men’s Health Week Matters

    Men in Aotearoa face some sobering health statistics. A boy born today is likely to live nearly four years less than a girl born next door. He’s also 20% more likely to die from a heart attack and 30% more likely to develop diabetes. Every day, eight Kiwi families lose a loved partner, father, or family member to an illness that could have been prevented.

    Even more concerning, one in four men in New Zealand won’t live to see retirement age. The picture is even more serious for Māori and Pasifika men, who experience lower life expectancy and higher rates of illness than other groups in Aotearoa.

    But there is hope. Exercise is consistently recognised as one of the most effective forms of preventative medicine, often more powerful than pharmaceuticals for conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and depression. Moving more isn’t just about fitness, it’s about staying alive, connected, and well.

    Strength Training: A Tool for Life

    Strength training is one of the most powerful tools men can use to improve both physical and mental wellbeing. It supports stronger bones, better sleep, sharper minds, and a reduced risk of disease. However, as the new research shows, extremes come with risk. You don’t need to overtrain to get results. Progress built on balance lasts longer. This Men’s Health Week, ExerciseNZ encourages men to realign their training goals using the following tips:

    Train with intention: Choose sustainable movement, not just maximum effort.
    Seek support: If you’re unsure, work with a registered REPs trainer or facility.
    Connect to your why: Whether it’s being there for your tamariki, managing stress, or simply feeling better, know what drives you.
    Connect with others: Move with whānau, join a class, or share your journey. It’s easier (and more fun) together.
    Start small: Walk more. Stretch more. Move a little every day. Then build from there

    Men’s Health Week is about empowering men to take charge. You don’t have to do everything, you just need to do something!

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Energy and Development – Cambridge is open for business with $45M energy boost

    Source: Waipa Networks

    This morning, Waipā Networks cut the ribbon on its newly commissioned 33kV zone substation alongside Transpower’s Grid Exit Point (GXP) – a combined investment of over $45 million.
    With Waipā’s population set to grow to around 75,000 over the next 25 years and another 13,200 homes to be built in and around the area, Waipā Networks’ new substation will significantly enhance resilience and future capacity to support our rapidly growing district.
    Over 200 attendees gathered in Hautapu to mark the commissioning of the two projects, with the event opening with a karakia and the gifting of a special taonga by Ngāti Korokī-Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā mana whenua.
    Waipā Networks Chief Executive Sean Horgan acknowledged everyone involved, including key partners, Transpower, and his team, for their mahi. He described the completion of this major infrastructure project as a landmark achievement and a first for Waipā Networks.
    “This milestone represents a solid step forward for our business and the district’s energy future, supporting our growing business community by enhancing our ability to connect large new electricity loads to the network.
    “It’s more than a technical achievement – it’s a declaration of intent. It strengthens our network, enables growth within Waipā, and lays the foundation for a low-carbon, electrified future.”
    Horgan noted the timing was especially meaningful as the company celebrates over a century of service to the Waipā district and its communities.
    “We are 100% owned by our customers, and it is an honour to look back at 100 years of service, while at the same time looking ahead to the future. Our mission remains the same: to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable electricity and to do it in a way that unlocks opportunities for our community.
    Located in one of Waikato’s fastest-growing industrial zones, the new substation is designed to power the future, enabling electrified transport, low-carbon agriculture, regional manufacturing, and greater integration of solar, battery, and smart grid technologies.
    “This is modern infrastructure, designed for a modern district that’s ready for growth.”
    Transpower Executive General Manager Grid Delivery Mark Ryall says that Waipa is just one of many regions where demand for electricity is rapidly growing.
    “Across the motu, we expect demand to grow around 70% by 2050 as Kiwis increasingly electrify the way we live and work. Transpower has a key enabling role for this energy transition as the owner and operator of our electricity transmission grid, working with our electricity sector partners across Aotearoa to deliver the reliable power system that our communities need to thrive and prosper.”
    Transpower has completed 20 customer projects to connect new demand or relocate existing assets to make way for development over the last 18 months, not including new generation. During the same time, a further 15 projects have progressed to delivery, which involves detailed design or construction, and 23 have entered the investigation stage.
    “These projects mean our local lines company partners like Waipā Networks can provide more power to their communities and big industrial users can electrify their operations. The future is bright, renewable and affordable, but getting there will require a heap of investment from Transpower and our partners across the industry. That’s an investment in our prosperity and energy security, and the hard mahi is well underway.”
    Waipā is growing faster than ever before, and so is the need for a reliable and resilient electricity network.
    Waipā Mayor Susan O’Regan said it was a significant milestone not just for Cambridge, but for the entire Waipā district.
    “It’s more than the completion of a critical infrastructure project, it’s a powerful symbol of growth, progress and foresight, and represents confidence in our district’s future,” she said.
    “We’re building real communities – connected, thriving places where people can live and raise families, and where businesses can grow and succeed. Energy is a critical part and enabler of this.”
    As the district steps into a new age of electricity, Horgan said the new substation is only the beginning.
    “We’re also defining the design of our future network architecture for Te Awamutu and Kihikihi, harnessing new technology to provide practical and reliable solutions for our customers,” he adds.
    “It’s about delivering for all of our communities; past, present, and future”.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Youth charged over offences committed in Southern Tasmania

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Youth charged over offences committed in Southern Tasmania

    Friday, 6 June 2025 – 11:46 am.

    Police have charged a 15-year-old from the Bridgewater area over a number of offences committed in Southern Tasmania recently.
    Police will allege the youth committed an aggravated armed robbery on a food delivery driver in Gagebrook on 8 May.
    The youth was charged with:

    1x aggravated armed robbery
    1x motor vehicle stealing
    3x stealing
    1x aggravated burglary
    1x possess controlled plant or its products
    2x possess a controlled drug
    1x possess thing used for administration of controlled drug
    1x evade police
    1x injure property
    1x common assault

    He will appear before the Youth Justice Court today.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia is in the firing line of Trump’s looming ‘revenge tax’. It’s a fight we’re unlikely to win

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graeme Cooper, Professor of Taxation Law, University of Sydney

    Alexey_Arz/Shutterstock

    The Australian Labor Party just won an election victory for the ages. Now, it may be forced to walk back one of the key achievements of its first term.

    Here’s why: United States President Donald Trump is about to declare an income tax war on much of the world – and we Australians are not on the same side.

    Over in the US, the “One Big Beautiful Bill act” – a tax and spending package worth trillions of dollars – has been passed by the House of Representatives. It’s now before the Senate for consideration.

    Within it lies a new and highly controversial provision: Section 899. This increases various US tax rates payable by taxpayers from any country the US claims is maintaining an “unfair foreign tax” by five percentage points each year, up to an additional 20% loading.

    Having been an integral part of an international effort to create a global 15% minimum tax, Australia now finds itself in the firing line of Trump’s “revenge tax” warfare – and it’s a fight we’re unlikely to win.

    A global minimum tax rate

    The origins of the looming income tax war started in 2013, when the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released its plan to stamp out “base erosion and profit shifting”.

    This refers to a range of strategies often used by multinational companies to minimise the tax they pay, exploiting differences and gaps in the tax rules of different countries.

    The OECD’s first attempt to tackle the problem was a collection of disparate measures directed not only at corporate tax avoidance, but also controlling tax poaching by national governments and “sweetheart deals” negotiated by tax officials.

    Under both Labor and the Coalition, Australia was initially an enthusiastic backer of these attempts.

    However, the project was not a widespread success. Many countries endorsed the final reports but, unlike Australia, few countries acted on them.

    After the failure of this first project, the OECD tried again in 2019. This evolved to encompass two “pillars” to change the global tax rules.

    Pillar one would give more tax to countries where a company’s customers are located. Pillar two is a minimum tax of 15% on (a version of) the accounting profits of the largest multinationals earned in each country where the multinational operates.

    Labor picked up this project for the 2022 election, promising to support both pillars – and they honoured that promise.

    US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on May 22.
    The Washington Post/Getty

    Mixed success

    Around the world, the two pillar project had mixed success. Pillar one was dead-on-arrival: most countries did nothing. But Australia and several other countries, mostly in Europe, implemented pillar two – the global minimum tax.

    The OECD has always maintained the base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project was a coalition of the willing, meant to rebalance the way income tax is allocated between producer and consumer countries, and rid the world of tax havens.

    In the US, Republicans did not share that view. For them, BEPS was simply another attempt by foreign countries to get more tax from US companies.

    This Republican dissatisfaction with the OECD is now on full display. On the first day of his second term, Trump issued an executive order, formally repudiating any OECD commitments the Biden administration might have given.

    He also directed his officials to report on options for retaliatory measures the US could take against any foreign countries with income tax rules that are “extraterritorial” or “disproportionately affect American companies”.

    Why Australia is so exposed

    Australia could find itself in the firing line of Trump’s tax warfare on many fronts. And the US doesn’t lack firepower. Section 899 adds to a number of retaliatory tax provisions the US already had at its disposal.

    The increased tax rates would affect Australian super funds and other investors earning dividends, rent, interest, royalties and other income from US companies.
    Australian super funds in particular are heavily invested in US markets, which have outperformed local stocks in recent years.

    It would also affect Australian managed funds owning land and infrastructure assets in the US, as well as Australian entities such as banks that carry on business in the US.

    And there are other measures that would expose US subsidiaries of Australian companies to US higher tax.

    The bill would even remove the doctrine of sovereign immunity for the governments of “offending” countries. Sovereign immunity refers to a tax exemption on returns that usually applies to governments. This means the Australian government itself could have to pay tax to the US.

    There are concerns on Wall Street this will dampen demand for US government bonds from foreign governments, which are big buyers of US Treasuries. The argument may sway some in the Senate – but how many remains to be seen.

    What Australia may need to do next

    We may be incredulous that anyone would consider our tax system combative, but enacting the OECD pillar two was always known to be risky.

    There are other, homegrown Australian tax measures that have drawn American ire.

    In 2015, Australia enacted an income tax measure (commonly called the “Google tax”) specifically directed at US tech companies. In 2017, we followed this up with a diverted profits tax. Trump’s bill specifically targets both measures.

    Tying ourselves to the OECD’s global minimum tax project might have seemed like a good idea in 2019. In 2025, it looks decidedly unappealing, and not just because of Trump.

    First, there is not actually any serious revenue in pillar two for Australia. Treasury’s revenue estimate totalled only $360 million after four years, just slightly more than a rounding error in the federal budget.

    Second, we are increasingly alone and vulnerable in this battle. It might feel emotionally satisfying to stand up to the US. If there was a sizeable coalition alongside us, there might be some point.

    If Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill act does pass through the US Senate, the Australian government and business will be left exposed to much higher costs.

    Since abandoning the US market is not really an option, it might be time to surrender quietly and gracefully – by reversing, at the very least, the contentious bits of pillar two.

    Graeme Cooper 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. Australia is in the firing line of Trump’s looming ‘revenge tax’. It’s a fight we’re unlikely to win – https://theconversation.com/australia-is-in-the-firing-line-of-trumps-looming-revenge-tax-its-a-fight-were-unlikely-to-win-257961

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Spit or swallow? What’s the best way to deal with phlegm?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Niall Johnston, Conjoint Associate Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney

    Pop Paul-Catalin/Shutterstock

    A spitting pot I consider as an essential part of the bed-room apparatus.

    That’s what French physician René Laennec wrote in 1821. Laennec, who invented the stethoscope, spent his days gazing at his patients’ phlegm. In the days before x-rays and blood tests, phlegm was considered a valuable diagnostic tool.

    Today, most of us don’t carry around a spitting pot. But a persistent question remains, especially during winter, when noses are dripping and chests are rattling.

    When you have a cough, should you spit out phlegm or is it better to swallow it?

    It might feel like an odd or even slightly stomach-churning topic, but it’s a remarkably common question patients ask doctors.

    What is phlegm?

    Phlegm, also known as sputum, is the thick, sticky mucus your lungs and windpipe make. This acts as a defensive barrier to protect them.

    Its main ingredients are mucins – large, sugar-coated proteins that trap viruses, bacteria, allergens and dust. These mucins also regulate inflammation and the body’s immune response to bacteria and viruses.

    We most commonly see phlegm with viral illness during winter. But phlegm is also evident in other medical conditions including asthma and allergies, bacterial infections, such as sinusitis, or with smoking or exposure to air pollution.

    In fact, we’re always making phlegm, even when we are healthy. Cells in the lungs secrete mucus to keep surfaces moist and trap irritants. When we encounter something potentially harmful, such as a virus or allergen, immune cells detect the threat and release signals that tell mucus-producing cells to step up their game.

    This extra mucus helps trap the invader and move it out of the lungs. Tiny hairs lining the airways (called cilia) then sweep the mucus up to the throat, where we cough it out or swallow it.

    These tiny hairs, or cilia, sweep phlegm up to your throat.
    Sakurra/Shutterstock

    The case for spitting

    Some people feel better if they spit out phlegm, especially if the phlegm is thick, sticky or irritates the throat.

    Spitting also lets you see what’s coming up. If phlegm contains blood, for example, it is important to see a doctor to exclude a more serious underlying illness, such as tuberculosis or cancer.

    If you do spit out, do so into a tissue and throw it in the bin. Wash your hands afterwards. This reduces the risk of spreading infection to others via respiratory droplets or contaminated surfaces.

    However, spitting out phlegm isn’t always practical, or polite. And for most viral infections, it doesn’t help you get better any faster than swallowing. The aim is to remove phlegm from the lungs, which occurs with either method.

    Spitting is also not feasible for young children, who haven’t yet developed the coordination to do so effectively. They’ll generally swallow their phlegm.

    How mucus keeps us healthy all year round, even if we’re not sick.

    The case for swallowing

    It might not sound particularly appealing, but swallowing phlegm is a normal process, and harmless. In fact, we often swallow phlegm without realising it.

    The lungs generate about 50 millilitres of phlegm daily. It goes unnoticed because it’s thin, blends with saliva and we continuously swallow it. We only become aware of it when it thickens, such as during a viral infection.

    After you swallow phlegm, it travels to the stomach, where acid and enzymes break it down, along with any germs it carries.

    Swallowing phlegm doesn’t “recycle” the germs, and it won’t result in the infection spreading elsewhere.

    In fact, swallowing viruses can even help build immunity. Once inside the gut, immune cells begin to recognise pieces of the virus and start preparing the body to respond more effectively to it in the future. Some important immunisations, such as the oral polio vaccine, work through this very mechanism.

    So, what’s the verdict?

    Whether you spit or swallow phlegm, both are safe. Spitting can help some people feel better, especially if their cough is associated with thick phlegm that’s causing distress.

    But for most healthy people, there’s no need to force a cough or spit out phlegm. Swallowing phlegm is completely safe. And in young children, it’s the only feasible option.

    In the end, it won’t matter if you spit or swallow your phlegm this winter. So choose what feels right (and least icky) for you.

    Phoebe Williams receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Medical Research Future Fund, and the Gates Foundation.

    Niall Johnston 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. Spit or swallow? What’s the best way to deal with phlegm? – https://theconversation.com/spit-or-swallow-whats-the-best-way-to-deal-with-phlegm-256216

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Premature babies are given sucrose for pain relief – but new research shows it doesn’t stop long-term impacts on development

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mia Mclean, Senior lecturer, Auckland University of Technology

    Getty Images

    Infants born very preterm spend weeks or even months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) while their immature brains are still developing.

    During this time, they receive up to 16 painful procedures every day. The most common is a routine heel prick used to collect a blood sample. Suctioning of the infant’s airways is also common.

    While many of these procedures provide critical care, we know they are acutely painful. Even tearing tape off the skin can be painful.

    We also know, from decades of research, that preterm babies’ exposure to daily painful invasive procedures is related to altered brain development, stress functioning and poorer cognitive and behavioural outcomes.

    The commonest strategy to manage acute pain in preterm babies is to give them sucrose, a sugar solution. But my recent research with Canadian colleagues shows this doesn’t stop these long-term impacts.

    In New Zealand, there is no requirement to document all procedures or pain treatments. But as the findings from our Canadian study show, we urgently need research to improve long-term health outcomes for children born prematurely.

    Long-term effects of pain in early life

    We collected data on the number of procedures, clinical exposures and sucrose doses from three NICUs across Canada.

    One of these sites does not use sucrose for acute pain management. This meant we were able to compare outcomes for children who received sucrose during their NICU stay and those who did not, without having to randomly assign infants to different care as you would in a randomised controlled trial – the gold standard approach.

    At 18 months of age, when children born preterm are typically seen for a follow-up, parents report on their child’s behaviour. Our findings replicate earlier research: very preterm babies who were exposed to painful procedures early in life showed more anxiety and depressive symptoms by toddlerhood.

    Our findings are similar regarding a child’s cognition and language, backing results from other studies. We found no link between preterm babies’ later behaviour and how much sucrose they were given to manage pain.

    The sweet taste of sucrose is thought to alleviate pain because it leads to the release of endorphins. It has become the worldwide standard of care for acute neonatal pain, but it doesn’t seem to be helping in the long term.

    Improving pain treatment

    About 1 in 13 babies are born preterm each year in Aotearoa New Zealand. Some 1-2% are very preterm, two to four months early. Māori and other ethnic minorities are at higher risk.

    Studies in New Zealand show children born very preterm have up to a three-fold risk of emotional disorders in preschool and by school age. This remains evident through adulthood.

    Sucrose may stop preterm babies from showing signs of pain, but physiological and neurological pain responses nevertheless happen.

    As is the case internationally, sucrose is used widely in New Zealand, but there is considerable variation in protocols of use across hospitals. No national guidelines for best practice exist.

    Infant pain should be assessed, but international data suggest this isn’t always the case. What’s more, pain isn’t always managed. Routine assessment of pain and parent education videos are useful initiatives to encourage pain management.

    Minimising the number of procedures is recommended by international bodies. Advances in clinical care, including the use of less invasive ventilation support and the inclusion of parents in the daily care of their infant, have seen the number of procedures decrease.

    Pain management guidelines also help, but whether these changes improve outcomes in the long term, we don’t know yet.

    We do know there are other ways of treating neonatal pain and minimising long-term impacts. Placing a newborn on a parent’s bare chest, skin-to-skin, effectively reduces short and long-term effects of neonatal pain.

    For times when whānau are not able to be in the NICU, we have limited evidence that other pain management strategies, such as expressed breast milk, are effective. Our recent research cements this: sucrose isn’t helping as we thought.

    Understanding which pain management strategies should be used for short and long-term benefits of this vulnerable population could make a big difference in the lives of these babies.

    This requires additional research and a different approach, while considering what is culturally acceptable in Aotearoa New Zealand. If the strategies we are currently using aren’t working, we need to think creatively about how to limit the impact of pain on children born prematurely.

    Mia Mclean 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. Premature babies are given sucrose for pain relief – but new research shows it doesn’t stop long-term impacts on development – https://theconversation.com/premature-babies-are-given-sucrose-for-pain-relief-but-new-research-shows-it-doesnt-stop-long-term-impacts-on-development-256804

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Defections are fairly common in Australian politics. But history shows they are rarely a good career move

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, Australian National University

    For many years now, Australian political scientists have pointed out that that established partisan allegiance is in decline. In 1967, 36% of Coalition supporters and 32% of Labor voters reported lifetime voting for their side. At the 2022 election, the Australian Election Study found the figures to be 16% and 12%.

    These changes help to explain the rising support for independents and minor parties at federal elections; they now take about a third of the primary vote.

    So much for voters. What about for politicians? Of course, there have always been plenty of parliamentarians who had an earlier stint as a member of some other party before landing in the one that sent them into parliament. Brendan Nelson was in the Labor Party before he was Liberal. John Gorton was Country Party before he was Liberal. Adam Bandt was Labor before he was Green. And so on. We are all entitled to change our minds, even if switching political parties was once closer to changing football teams – a habit that immediately arouses suspicion in a sports-loving nation.

    Senator Dorinda Cox’s switch from the Greens to the Labor Party was apparently a homecoming, according to Cox. She was once a Labor Party member, she said. Last week, she was criticising the party over its approval of Woodside’s Northwest Shelf gas project. This week, she finds Labor’s values aligned with her own.

    Of course, her defection has been accompanied by a steady leaking of little details of her Greens career, such as an excoriation of the Labor Party, in her application to run for the Greens, when she said the ALP patronised “women and people of colour” and cared more about its donors than members.

    That’s politics, but it’s a democratic deficit that senators elected as part of a Senate team, in a system that has facilitated above-the-line voting since 1984, can sit for years afterwards in the parliament as a member of another party.

    But good luck in getting up a constitutional change, via referendum, to change that.

    Still, it is easy to understand how such nimbleness breeds cynicism about political parties. Another perspective might be that the fluidity of allegiance out in the electorate has come to inhabit the political class itself.

    All the same, defections from one party to another are quite rare these days in federal politics, at least after one is sitting in parliament. But defections from a party to sit as an independent are not and some, such as Bob Katter, have managed to build successful political careers outside the parties.

    One who did not was was Julia Banks, the Liberal member for Chisholm, who announced she would not be seeking re-election and then left the party for the crossbench in the wake of Scott Morrison’s ascension to the leadership in 2018. Banks complained of bullying and intimidation within the Liberal Party and the wider parliament, and wrote a book on her experiences. She subsequently failed to gain election as an independent in another seat.

    There were several defectors in the last parliament. A House of Representatives crossbench that began at 16 had reached 19 by the end, with the defections of two Liberals (Russell Broadbent and Ian Goodenough, both after losing preselection) and one National, Andrew Gee, the latter over his party’s opposition to the Voice. Only Gee has lived politically to tell the tale, winning Calare as an Independent, as Peter Andren did before him.

    Defections from minor and microparties are especially common, based as they often are on a high-profile leader and lacking traditions of party discipline or solid structures of organisational governance. Jacqui Lambie began as a Palmer United Party senator. Tammy Tyrrell began as a Jacqui Lambie Network senator.

    The biggest “defection” in modern Australian politics was that of Cheryl Kernot from the Australian Democrats to the Labor Party in 1997. It is easy, over a quarter of a century on, and with the Australian Democrats no longer in the Australian parliament, to underestimate what a big deal this was at the time.

    Kernot was a rock star of a politician, leader of the Australian Democrats, and a national celebrity. But there are significant differences with Cox beyond Kernot’s greater eminence. She resigned her Senate seat immediately and would win the marginal Brisbane seat of Dickson in the following year’s election. Then, in 2001, she would lose it to a young and ambitious former policeman named Peter Dutton.

    The experience was ultimately an unhappy one for Kernot: she believed that having recruited her into the ranks, the Labor Party – and its leader, Kim Beazley, did not know how to make the best use of her. She was also on the receiving end of some relentlessly negative and sometimes intrusive media coverage. And by her own admission, she made mistakes. The story of her career’s unravelling is not straightforward. The role that gender played in it remains contentious.

    Perhaps Kernot’s experience would alone be sufficient to prompt second thoughts in anyone seeking to jump ship. There are, of course, older prohibitions. In the Labor Party, a defector was known as a “rat”. Billy Hughes, the prime minister whose effort to introduce conscription in the first world war split the party, is the most famous of them.

    “Rat” is not a word much heard these days, but it was thrown around a bit when Senator Fatima Payman defected in 2024, and applied more seriously in 1996 to Labor Senator Mal Colston when he resigned from the Labor Party in exchange for the deputy presidency of the Senate.

    The best historical example of a defection being good for your career is that of Joe Lyons, who ratted on Labor in 1931 to lead a new party called the United Australia Party, a switch engineered by a small group of influential businessmen.
    The circumstances – the Great Depression, real fear of civil violence, and the disintegration of a federal Labor government – were highly unusual.

    More commonly, defection is a bad career move. Most of the Labor politicians who went over to the breakaway anti-communist Democratic Labor Party (DLP) in the mid-1950s found themselves out of parliament and looking for a new job. Stan Keon, one of those flying high ahead of the split, even occasionally mentioned – unrealistically – as a possible future prime minister, would run a Melbourne wine shop. Others, such as Vince Gair, Queensland Labor premier, lived to fight another day as a DLP senator (and ambassador to Ireland).

    Cox has three years left of her senate term. After that, she will be at the mercy of the Labor Party. Labor won three Senate seats at the 2022 half-Senate election in Western Australia and perhaps it could do so again. On that occasion, in a surprise victory, the third place went to the young up-and-coming union organiser, Fatima Payman.

    Frank Bongiorno 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. Defections are fairly common in Australian politics. But history shows they are rarely a good career move – https://theconversation.com/defections-are-fairly-common-in-australian-politics-but-history-shows-they-are-rarely-a-good-career-move-258177

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Collins, Warner Introduce Bipartisan Bill Establishing Transparent Standards for Security Clearances

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Published: June 05, 2025

    Bill would require clear criteria for decisions to grant, deny, or revoke security clearances

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Mark Warner (D-VA), members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, reintroduced the Integrity in Security Clearance Determinations Act, bipartisan legislation to protect the integrity of the security clearance process.
    “The security clearance system is critical to protecting our country from harm and safeguarding access to our most classified information. Americans should have the utmost confidence in the integrity of the security clearance process,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill would make the current system fairer and more transparent by ensuring that decisions to grant, deny, or revoke clearances are based solely on codified guidelines.”
    “Americans should be able to have confidence that the security clearance process is focused solely on protecting our nation’s most sensitive information,” said Senator Warner. “This bipartisan legislation will make clear that this vital system cannot be weaponized for political retribution.”
    The Integrity in Security Clearance Determinations Act, which the Senators first introduced in 2019, would ensure that the security clearance process is fair, objective, transparent, and accountable by requiring decisions to grant, deny, or revoke clearances to be based on published criteria. It explicitly prohibits the executive branch from revoking security clearances based on the exercise of constitutional rights, such as the right to freely express political views, or for purposes of political retaliation. Additionally, it bans agencies from using security clearances to punish whistleblowers or discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, religion, age, handicap, or national origin.
    The bill also codifies in statute the right of government employees to appeal decisions to deny or revoke a security clearance, and requires the government to publicly publish the results of such appeals – providing transparency, accountability and basic due process rights in an otherwise opaque and irregular process.
    The complete text of the bill is available here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Policy Briefing on the Property Insurance Crisis Hosted by Congresswoman Frederica Wilson

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Frederica S Wilson (24th District of Florida)

    Today, June 5th, 2025, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24) hosted a policy briefing on the Property Insurance Crisis in Florida and across the nation. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson brought policy experts to discuss the rising costs of property insurance, its coverage, and the challenges consumers face when dealing with property insurance.

    “Everywhere I go in Florida, doesn’t matter what parts folks are from, people are concerned about our property insurance crisis. And with hurricane season just starting, causing a rush through the hearts of South Florida Families, the fear of the rising costs of homeowner’s insurance is real and tangible for folks,” Congresswoman Frederica Wilson said. “That’s why I introduced the Homeowners’ Defense Act and convened a policy briefing, because we need real solutions to this crisis. Property insurance has become too expensive, with limited options and many insurers refusing coverage. It’s time we tackle this issue head-on.”

    According to Insurify, Florida’s projected cost of property insurance averages about $11,000 a year.

    As part of the 119th Congress, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson introduced the Homeowners’ Defense Act.  The Act seeks to bolster state efforts in managing natural disaster risks, support insurance market stability, and encourage mitigation and preventive measures to reduce future losses.

    Joining Congresswoman Frederica Wilson in this briefing were Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-2), Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-5), and Congressman Jonathan Jackson (IL-1).

    “Florida’s property insurance crisis is pushing families to make impossible choices. I’ve heard from Central Floridians that they are forgoing coverage altogether because they can’t afford both healthcare and property insurance. It’s a shame that the property insurance crisis has put folks in this position,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10). “And it’s leading to a dangerous situation as climate change creates even more devastating hurricane seasons. We need urgent, collective action from policymakers and industry leaders before this makes worse the ongoing housing crisis.”

    “The escalating cost of homeowners insurance is not just a coastal issue; it’s hitting families hard right here in Chicago and the First District. We’ve seen premiums jump by as much as 50% in Illinois in just a few short years. Many of my constituents, particularly those in historic neighborhoods with older homes, are facing a double whammy: skyrocketing rates and, in some cases, the inability to find coverage at all,” Congressman Jonathan Jackson said (IL-1). “We need to explore all avenues – from federal support for mitigation and reinsurance, like ideas in H.R. 827, to robust state oversight – to ensure that insurance remains accessible and affordable, and that homeowners are treated fairly.”

    “I was proud to join my friend Congresswoman Frederica Wilson today to confront one of the most pressing challenges facing homeowners across the country – skyrocketing property insurance costs. This is hitting working families in every corner of America, especially Louisiana, and it’s squeezing them out of homeownership. The briefing made one thing clear: as natural disasters become more prevalent, property and casualty insurance rates will continue to rise and impact more communities. We have more storms in more places that have historically never had this before. There will continue to be a strain on communities as people will be dropped from insurance coverage after sustaining damages. This is unacceptable. Property insurance should be fair, accessible, and affordable for everyone,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02).

    Congresswoman Nikema Williams said (GA-5), “Climate change’s impact on the insurance market is something I’ve experienced firsthand. After a hailstorm damaged my roof and those of my neighbors, I filed a claim—only to be labeled high-risk and dropped by my insurer. This is part of a growing trend of insurance companies pulling out of markets they consider too risky due to climate change. For families already struggling to get by, losing home insurance could mean losing the chance to build equity and generational wealth. If we leave this issue unaddressed—or worse, pretend it doesn’t exist—we put all homeowners at serious risk.”

    The panel included Doug Heller from the Consumer Federation of America, Robert Gordon from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, and Baird Webel and Diane Horn from the Congressional Research Service. Alice Hill, the David M. Rubenstein senior fellow for energy and the environment at the Council on Foreign Relation, moderated the event.

    Vice Chairman of the Miami-Dade County Commission, Kionne McGhee, said “The crushing weight of mortgages, taxes, and insurance is already wiping out generational wealth. And with the high cost of property insurance, folks are struggling to even protect their families. Some insurance companies can raise rates and still stay within the law–decisions made behind closed doors with no regard for the people affected. For families with no savings, higher payments don’t mean just cutting back—it means choosing between skipping meals just to keep their homes. We need to address this property insurance crisis head-on for the sake of the families of Miami-Dade County and across the nation.”

    Douglas Heller, Director of Insurance at the Consumer Federation of America said, “Over the past several years, Americans have experienced an unprecedented increase in the cost of homeowners insurance and an equally unprecedented decrease in its availability. This is not only causing acute financial pain for millions of families, it is making homeownership less sustainable and less attainable. In order to address this crisis, as climate change increases risk across the country, we need to invest in loss mitigation and resilience, and we also need to demand better oversight and more scrutiny of the insurance companies that we rely on to protect our homes.”

    Robert Gordon, APCIA’s senior vice president of policy, research, and international  said, “APCIA commends Rep. Frederica Wilson, Rep. Maxwell Frost, Rep. Nikema Williams, Rep. Darren Soto, and Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Vice Chair Kionne McGhee for their interest in addressing factors impacting the cost of living, including housing and homeowners insurance.  The growing demographic shifts and property values to high-climate-risk areas, inflation in the cost to repair and replace property, climate change, legal system abuse, delayed regulatory approval of rate filings, and mandated coverages have collectively resulted in escalating insurance losses.  Insurance is a passthrough of those costs. While homeowners insurance is a relatively small percent of the overall cost of homeownership, APCIA is committed to working with housing groups and regulators on long-term solutions to improve the availability and affordability of insurance. APCIA is also committed to working with members of Congress on commonsense mitigation and resiliency solutions that will better protect consumers and slow the rate of increase in property losses.” 

    The Congressional Research Service has published multiple reports on the Property Insurance Crisis, including “Homeowners Insurance and California Wildfires,” “Natural Disasters and the Homeowners Insurance Market,” and ‘“Hearing on “The Factors Influencing the High Cost of Insurance for Consumers”’

    For photos and B-Roll of the event, click here.

    For the livestream of the event, click here.

    This event was held in Rayburn House Office Building; Room 2075.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xinjiang: Folk cultural event adds color to herders’ lives

    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

    The 6th cultural and tourism event was held in Handegate Mongolian National Township, Altay City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in early summer. Lively and cheerful song and dance performances, as well as exciting folk sports competitions, attract local herders and tourists to participate and experience the charm of national culture. Photo by Xinhua News Agency correspondent Wang Fei.

    1 2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   >  

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Traditional culture shapes “new national trend”

    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

    “National Trend” (Guochao) is a fusion of the concepts of “domestic” and “trend”: “national” refers to elements of traditional Chinese culture, and “trend” means fashion trends. “New National Trend” combines these two concepts through innovation and creativity.

    Today, leading the new national trend, China’s unique traditional culture is unleashing a powerful force for socio-economic development.

    This whirlwind of Chinese-style cultural creativity is constantly gaining momentum: from the annual best-selling Forbidden City Calendar to the incredibly popular fridge magnets, internet users have dedicated themselves to collecting and recreating, creating entire “museums” of magnets depicting cultural relics in their homes.

    “New National Trend” Boosts Job Creation. In Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, the boom in traditional Chinese costumes, Hanfu, has created a huge demand for makeup artists and stylists. The Chang’an District government launched a free training program for stylists and makeup artists who can recreate the looks of the Tang and Han dynasties. To date, the initiative has created nearly 7,000 jobs, with an average annual income of over 90,000 yuan.

    The popularity of the “new national trend” contributes to the optimization of the division of labor, the formation of new professions and the creation of new growth points in the employment sector, which helps the population to obtain high-quality vacancies and full employment during employment.

    The Rise of “New Chinese Style”: From Cultural Phenomenon to Industrial Transformation. LaoPu Gold, a brand that revives ancient gold processing techniques, integrates intangible cultural heritage into modern design. Its sales grew by 160% in 2024. Meanwhile, the market size of “Chinese health drinks” based on herbs, fruits, and medicinal plants prepared by boiling and extracting is projected to exceed 10 billion yuan by 2028. “New Chinese Style” is penetrating niche consumer segments, forming a new growth model through cultural values.

    The national trend continuously stimulates the consumer market and the potential of enterprises. Its flourishing not only demonstrates the cultural confidence of Chinese brands, but also reflects the high vitality of traditional culture in the modern commercial environment.

    Traditional culture is no longer a “showcase” to be worshipped; it has become a living asset that can be touched, transformed, and even enhanced. Keeping pace with the times, Chinese traditional culture not only forms a spiritual reference point, but also marks cultural milestones of high-quality development.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Powering up New Zealand Cycle Trails

    Source: Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE)

    Through the first round of the Electrifying the Great Rides Fund, $478,750 in co-funding has been approved to install 10 e-bike charging stations across the Hawke’s Bay Trails and the Remutaka Cycle Trail. These stations will be located at key points along the trails, including outside popular business premises and i-SITEs, enhancing accessibility for e-bike users and encouraging longer, more enjoyable rides.

    The $3 million Electrifying the Great Rides Fund was launched in 2024 to make New Zealand’s cycle trails more appealing to both domestic and international visitors.

    In a move to broaden the impact of the programme, the second round of funding – opening on 1 August 2025 – will expand eligibility to include Heartland and Connector Rides. These trails form part of the wider Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trail network and often traverse rural and remote areas. The expanded criteria will allow more communities to benefit from increased tourism and improved trail infrastructure.

    The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is also working with sector partners to refresh the overall New Zealand Cycle Trail programme, ensuring it continues to meet the growing demand for nature-based and environmentally friendly tourism experiences.

    More information about the second funding round will be available on the MBIE website from 30 June 2025. Territorial authorities and community groups supported by their local councils are encouraged to apply.

    Read the Minister’s release:

    E-bike upgrades for New Zealand Cycle Trails(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tender period extended for Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 2

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (June 6) announced that the tender period for the design, build and operate contract for the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 2 (I∙PARK2) (Contract No. EP/SP/312/24) has been extended to noon on July 18, 2025.
     
         The EPD invited tenders for the contract on December 20, 2024. The tender period was originally scheduled to expire at noon on June 27, 2025.
     
         The extension of the tender period was gazetted today. Details of the tender notice are available on the EPD’s website (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/business_job/business_opp/tender.html).
     
         The EPD has commissioned Binnies Hong Kong Limited as the project’s Engineering Consultant. For enquiries, please contact the person-in-charge, Mr Colin Chan (Telephone: 2601 1000; Fax: 2601 3988; E-mail: BinniesHK@binnies.com).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Tax time is the ideal time to complete a super health check

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    It’s important people know how much super they have, where it is, and if their employer is paying the right amount. At tax time we encourage everyone to complete a super health check.

    For most people it only takes a few minutes, and most checks can be done on ATO online. The super health check consists of the following 5 checks:

    1. Check your contact details

    2. Check your super balance and employer contributions

    3. Check for lost and unclaimed super

    4. Check if you have multiple super accounts and consider consolidating

    5. Check your nominated beneficiary

    People can do a super health check at any time, but it’s a good idea to do it at least once a year, such as when preparing their tax return. It’s a great way of understanding super and staying in control.

    An additional benefit of completing a super health check could be the early detection of fraudulent activity. If people think there’s been activity on their super account that they haven’t authorised, they should contact their super fund immediately.

    Visit ato.gov.au/SuperHealthCheck for more information or to watch a short that explains each check in more detail.

    The super health check is also available in Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Korean, and Vietnamese.

    Looking for the latest news for Super funds? You can stay up to date by visiting our Super funds newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly Super funds newsletter and CRT alerts.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Foreign Nationals Charged with Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute Almost Four Tons of Methamphetamine

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SAN DIEGO – A federal complaint was filed today charging Erick Arriola, Baltazar Rodriguez Reyes and Eugenio Lizama, alleged drivers of drug-laden vans and a truck, with conspiring to distribute almost four tons of methamphetamine.

    It was one of the biggest seizures of methamphetamine in 2025 in the Southern District of California, and the most significant so far by the new Homeland Security Task Force San Diego, which was recently established by the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security at the request of President Trump.

    Among other goals, the task force was created to identify and target for prosecution transnational criminal organizations engaged in drug trafficking, money laundering, weapons trafficking, human trafficking and smuggling, homicide, extortion, and kidnapping.

    The complaint alleges that on June 2, 2025, federal law enforcement officials were conducting surveillance on four vehicles – which included two white panel vans, a white Ford F150 truck, and a semi-truck – as they congregated in a parking lot in the 8200 block of Otay Mesa Road.

    According to the complaint, bundles in each vehicle had been moved from the large semi-truck into the other vehicles while in the parking lot. The three defendants drove in separate directions before they were ultimately arrested by United States Border Patrol. Each vehicle was stuffed with large bundles of methamphetamine.

    Arriola, of El Salvador, was present in the United States despite being a felon convicted of DUI, battery of a spouse, and false imprisonment. Rodriguez Reyes and Lizama are Mexican nationals.

    “The recent formation of Homeland Security Task Force San Diego is an essential step to fulfilling the promises of Operation Take Back America,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, “Our Office will fully support these enhanced law enforcement partnerships to ensure the safety of our community.”

    “As a founding member of HSTF in San Diego, I’m thrilled to be working alongside our partners who have also committed resources to combatting transnational crime,” said Shawn Gibson, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “Cases under the HSTF will be a priority for me and staff as we all will continue to work together to secure our border and keep our communities safe.”

    “Collaboration between law enforcement agencies greatly helps to effectively combat transnational criminal organizations,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey Stalnaker. “The leveraging of our unique capabilities amplifies our ability to safeguard the nation.”

    “When we combine our unique capabilities, authorities, strengths, and assets, we create a unified response to the expansive cartel threat,” said FBI San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge Houtan Moshrefi. “FBI San Diego will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to reduce the growing epidemic of drug trafficking and violence in our community.”

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Martin of the U.S. Attorney’s recently created Narcoterrorism Unit.

    DEFENDANTS                                 Case Number 25mj3112                                          

    Erick Omar Arriola                                      Age 27                El Salvador

    Baltazar Rodriguez Reyes                           Age 49                Mexico

    Eugenio Lizama                                          Age 35                Mexico

    SUMMARY OF CHARGES

    Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B) – Possession with Intent to

    Distribute Methamphetamine

    Maximum penalty: Life; 10-year mandatory minimum sentence

    Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 841(a)(1), 846 – Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

    Maximum penalty: Life; 10-year mandatory minimum sentence

    INVESTIGATING AGENCIES

    Homeland Security Investigations

    Federal Bureau of Investigation

    United States Border Patrol

    San Diego County Sheriff’s Department

    This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) San Diego as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to, among other goals, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.

    *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rochester area teacher arrested on child pornography charges

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kevin Burns, 45, of Irondequoit, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in October 2023, the New York State Police received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an individual living in Rochester uploaded an image of child pornography from the internet. Subsequent investigation traced the images to Burns, a teacher employed by a school in Monroe County. In November 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Burns’ residence, during which they seized his computer. A forensic review of the device recovered more than 450 images of child pornography, to include children engaged in sexual acts with adults, children that are restrained, blind-folded or masked, and infants and toddler-age children.

    Burns made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. District Judge Colleen D. Holland and was held pending a detention hearing.   

    The complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm.

    The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.   

    # # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘HIV shouldn’t be death sentence in Fiji’ – call for testing amid outbreak

    By Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor

    Fiji’s Minister for Health and Medical Services has revealed the latest HIV numbers in the country to a development partner roundtable discussing the national response.

    The minister reported 490 new HIV cases between October and December last year, bringing the 2024 total to 1583.

    “Included in this number are 32 newborns diagnosed with HIV acquired through mother-to-child transmission,” Dr Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu said.

    Fiji declared an outbreak of the disease in January. The Fiji Sun reported around 115 HIV-related deaths in the January-September 2024 period.

    Fiji’s Central Division reported 1100 new cases in 2024, with 427 in the Western Division and 50 in the Northern Division.

    Of the newly recorded cases, less than half — 770 — have been successfully linked to care, of which 711 have been commenced on antiretroviral therapy (ART).

    Just over half were aged in their twenties, and 70 percent of cases were male.

    Increase in TB, HIV co-infection
    Dr Lalabalavu said the increase in HIV cases was also seeing an increase in tuberculosis and HIV co-infection, with 160 individuals in a year.

    He said the ministry strongly encouraged individuals to get tested, know their status, and if it was positive, seek treatment.

    Fiji Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Atonio Lalabalavu . . .  strongly encourages individuals to get tested. Image: Ministry of Health & Medical Services/FB/RNZ Pacific

    And if it is negative, to maintain that negative status.

    “I will reiterate what I have said before to all Fijians – HIV should not be a death sentence in Fiji,” he said.

    In the Western Pacific, the estimated number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) reached 1.9 million in 2020, up from 1.4 million in 2010.

    At the time, the World Health Organisation said that over the previous two decades, HIV prevalence in the Western Pacific had remained low at 0.1 percent.

    However, the low prevalence in the general population masked high levels of HIV infection among key populations.

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

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Video: AMERICA 250: JOIN US ON JUNE 14, 2025

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    Join us in D.C. on Sat., June 14 for an unforgettable celebration of 250 years of the U.S. Army—the greatest fighting force in the history of the world.

    We’re marking this historic milestone with a once-in-a-lifetime military parade.

    INFO http://America250.org

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQx5CA7fjY8

    MIL OSI Video –