NewzIntel.com

Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Sexual Assault – Palmerston

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police Force have arrested a 37-year-old male in relation to a sexual assault committed on a female, aged under 16, in the Palmerston CBD late yesterday afternoon.

    The offender was not known to the victim.

    Detectives from the Child Abuse Taskforce identified and arrested the alleged offender earlier today.

    He remains in police custody, with charges expected to be laid later this evening.

    Anyone who witnesses crime is urged to contact police on 131 444 or dial Triple Zero in an emergency. You can anonymously report crime via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Draft Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2025/D2 published

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    We’ve published Draft Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2025/D2 Factors to consider when determining the amount of your inbound, cross-border related party financing arrangement – ATO compliance approach.

    This draft PCG outlines our compliance approach and risk assessment framework, providing:

    • general factors relevant in determining and testing the amount of a taxpayer’s inbound, cross-border related party financing arrangement
    • specific examples on how we use the factors in our compliance approach
    • the types of documentation and evidence that we expect taxpayers to prepare in determining the amount of their cross-border related party financing arrangements.

    The draft is open for public comment until 30 June 2025. If you would like to submit comments, refer to the instructions within PCG 2025/D2.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Early voting begins in South Korea for snap presidential election

    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

    SEOUL, May 29 (Xinhua) — Early voting began on Thursday for South Korea’s snap presidential election, officially scheduled for June 3.

    Early voting, which was adopted in 2013 and first applied to the 2014 local elections, will take place over two days through Friday.

    Of the 44,391,871 eligible voters, those who wish to cast their ballot before Election Day will be able to vote at 3,568 polling stations across the country from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time.

    As of 09:00, turnout in early voting was 3.55 percent, exceeding the previous maximum of 2.19 percent in the 2024 parliamentary elections.

    This figure was also higher than the turnout for early voting in the 2022 presidential election of 2.14 percent. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand’s relationship with Nepal reaches new heights

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a historic visit to Nepal, the first by a New Zealand Foreign Minister to the country.  
    Mr Peters’ visit coincided with the 72nd anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s summit of Sagarmāthā / Mount Everest. 
    “The relationship between Nepal and New Zealand, forged by Tenzing Norgay and Ed Hillary in May 1953, is undoubtedly special,” Mr Peters says.
    “It has been an honour to pay tribute to our countries’ pioneering heroes – and to discuss how best New Zealand and Nepal can best cooperate in the second quarter of the 21st Century.” While in Nepal, Mr Peters met President Ramchandra Paudel, Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba.  
    “New Zealand and Nepal have a shared interest in regional and global security,” Mr Peters says. 
    “We discussed current regional and global challenges of mutual interest.“Nepal is notably the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping globally. We discussed New Zealand’s strong commitment to multilateralism and our mutual interest in working with likeminded countries to strengthen the rules-based international system.“We also discussed the importance of improved air connections to facilitate trade and people-to-people connections. Our goal is to have an Air Services Agreement between New Zealand and Nepal in place in the near future.”During his visit to Nepal, Mr Peters announced a NZ$1.8 million partnership with the Himalayan Trust to deliver quality education in the Solukhumbu District over five years. Mr Peters met Alexander Hillary, General Manager of the Himalayan Trust (and Sir Edmund’s grandson), and visited Khumiung School and Khunde Hospital, which Sir Edmund helped establish. “It was a privilege to meet with the resilient and welcoming people of the Everest region and with members of the Himalayan Trust on the anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s historic achievement,” Mr Peters says.Mr Peters departs Nepal for India today for the final stop in his ongoing four-country tour.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs detects money laundering case involving about $3.46 million following unfair trade practice investigation

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs detects money laundering case involving about $3.46 million following unfair trade practice investigation 
    In mid-2022, Customs detected two unfair trade practice cases and arrested a local man. In July 2023, the man was convicted of engaging in commercial practices involving misleading omissions in the sale of training services on dating techniques, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, and was sentenced to 160 hours of community service order.
     
    A subsequent financial investigation and fund-flow analysis revealed that there were numerous suspicious transactions, which were suspected to be crime proceeds, in the personal bank accounts of the man. Meanwhile, the investigation also revealed that another local man used his personal bank accounts to assist the man to receive the suspected crime proceeds, totaling about $3.46 million, during the period between April 2020 and February 2025.
     
    Upon further investigation, Customs arrested the two local men, aged 26 and 35, yesterday for “dealing with property known or reasonably believed to represent proceeds of indictable offenses” (commonly known as money laundering) under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO) and searched their residential premises in Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi and Quarry Bay. Two mobile phones, a computer notebook and a batch of bank documents were seized in the operation.
     
    The arrested persons have been released on bail pending investigation. The investigation of the case is still ongoing, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
     
    Under OSCO, a person commits an offence if he or she deals with any property knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that such property in whole or in part directly or indirectly represents any person’s proceeds of an indictable offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for 14 years while the crime proceeds are also subject to confiscation.
     
    Members of the public may report any suspected money laundering activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 12:50

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Met Police crackdown on fraudsters targeting vulnerable Londoners

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    The Met is clamping down on courier fraud, following a targeted operation which has led to the seizure of more than £250,000 in cash and hundreds of bank cards and phones in recent weeks.

    In just two months, officers have arrested 18people believed to be behind sophisticated fraud scams, with the oldest victim affected aged 101.

    The Met’s operation has also seen a 46% decrease in reported offences since it began in February 2025.

    Courier fraud is where fraudsters contact victims by telephone impersonating trusted authorities such as a police officer or bank officials. They will deceive them into withdrawing cash or handing over bank cards. Sometimes scammers trick victims into purchasing expensive items, such as jewellery, to hand over to who they believe is a courier. The items are often handed over in person, but also by post.

    As part of these scams, criminals often target vulnerable members of the community, with 80% of victims of courier fraud above the age of 65.

    Using intelligence and proactive policing, Met officers working with the City of London Police, have taken decisive action to bring suspected offenders to justice and clampdown on the organised crime networks sitting behind them.

    Officers conducted a number of warrants across several London addresses, used covert tactics and intelligence to dismantle suspected organised crime networks.

    Those involved in the operation also visited more than 100 victims to reassure, educate and help recover money stolen.

    Detective Superintendent Kerry Wood, Head of the Met’s Economic Crime Unit, said:

    “Met officers have worked extremely hard over the last few months to protect those vulnerable to this devasting crime, which can deprive vulnerable people of their livelihoods, pensions and hard-earned savings. The impact of these crimes can be long-lasting and cause significant emotional harm.

    “We’ve arrested a number of individuals as part of our targeted operation, but the work doesn’t stop here and our officers will continue to pursue those who ruthlessly target our communities via sophisticated scams.

    “Our message to criminals should be clear – we will investigate, arrest and put you before the courts.”

    As part of the Met’s mission to tackle economic crime and fraud, detectives continue to work alongside banks, businesses and community groups, as well as the City of London Police and Action Fraud.

    Detective Chief Inspector Alexander Eristavi, from the Lead Force Operations Room (LFOR) at City of London Police, said:

    “This is a fantastic demonstration of collaborative police work and the impactful results that can be delivered when we come together.

    “The results achieved over this period have positively impacted vulnerable members of the community, and we are eager to build on this success in the future.

    “We would like to thank all of the teams at City of London Police who contributed to this operation as well as colleagues at the Metropolitan Police Service who we worked alongside.”

    In recent weeks, officers have also focussed on crime prevention. They have carried out over 90 awareness visits to banks, jewellers and bureau de change branches, while delivering educational presentations to those working within the impacted industries.

    Officers have also sent out over 115,000 crime prevention leaflets to help people spot the signs of courier fraud.

    Case Studies

    The operation investigated a series of courier fraud allegations. In one investigation, it’s alleged that a man and women posed as bank officials and tricked unsuspecting victims into handing over their bank cards. Two people have since been charged in relation to this investigation, after officers connected them to 60 other reports of a similar nature.

    The operation also uncovered a suspected multi-million-pound organised crime network, who are alleged to have tricked victims into sending their bank cards to various addresses across London. It is alleged that the suspects would then use the cards to fraudulently purchase expensive goods within high-end retail shops. 70 reports were connected to this investigation and four men have since been charged with fraud in relation to this. Another three people have been charged for concealing stolen goods.

    How to protect yourself from courier fraud:

    Be extremely wary of unsolicited phone calls from your bank or the police, particularly if they are requesting personal or financial information.

    End the call, and call back on a different phone line or on a mobile. If this is not possible, wait at least one minute before calling back. Use either the telephone number on your bank card, go to the bank’s website or for the police dial ‘101’.

    Speak to friends or family before carrying out any actions. Don’t trust claims made by cold callers.

    Never hand over your money, bank cards or make purchases following an unexpected call.

    Never share your PIN with anyone.

    The Met’s website has more information on protecting yourself from this type of fraud : Door-to-door and courier fraud | Metropolitan Police

    You can also find out more by visiting : The Little Book of Big Scams – 5th Edition).

    If you have lost money, make a police report and contact your bank immediately.

    Report cybercrime and fraud in the UK to Action FraudOnline at www.actionfraud.police.uk, or by calling 0300 123 2040.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • US curbs chip design software, chemicals, other shipments to China

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The United States has ordered a broad swathe of companies to stop shipping goods to China without a license and revoked licenses already granted to certain suppliers, said three people familiar with the matter.

    The new restrictions – which are likely to escalate tensions with Beijing – appear aimed at choke points to prevent China from getting products necessary for key sectors, one of the people said.

    Products affected include design software and chemicals for semiconductors, butane and ethane, machine tools, and aviation equipment, the people said.

    Many companies received letters from the U.S. Department of Commerce over the last few days informing them of the new restrictions.

    Firms that supply electronic design automation (EDA) software for semiconductors were sent letters last Friday that licenses would now be needed to ship to Chinese customers, two of the sources said.

    The electronic design automation software makers include Cadence, Synopsys and Siemens EDA, one said.

    The two sources said the Commerce Department will review requests for licenses to ship to China on a case-by-case basis, suggesting the action was not an outright ban.

    It is unclear whether the new restrictions are part of a broader strategy to create leverage for trade talks during a pause in the imposition of higher tariffs.

    The Commerce Department said it is reviewing exports of strategic significance to China, while noting “in some cases, Commerce has suspended existing export licenses or imposed additional license requirements while the review is pending.”

    The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Shares of Cadence, which declined to comment, closed down 10.7% and shares of Synopsys fell 9.6%.

    Synopsys’ CEO Sassine Ghazi said in a call with analysts that the company had not received a letter nor had it heard from the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, which enforces export controls.

    “We are aware of the reporting and speculations, but Synopsys has not received a notice from BIS … We have not received a letter,” Ghazi said.

    After the market closed, Synopsys reaffirmed its revenue forecast for 2025. Its shares and those of Cadence bounced back 3.5% in trading after the close.

    Siemens EDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Any move to strip the software makers of their Chinese customers could deal a blow to their bottom line and to their Chinese chip design customers, which heavily rely on top-of-the-line U.S. software.

    “They are the true choke point,” said a former Commerce Department official, who added that rules restricting the export of EDA tools to China have been under consideration since the first Trump administration, but were ruled out as too aggressive.

    Synopsys relies on China for about 16% of its annual revenue, and China accounts for about 12% of annual revenue for Cadence.

    Synopsys, which partners with chip companies such as Nvidia, Qualcomm and Intel, provides software and hardware used for designing advanced processors.

    The Financial Times earlier reported that the Trump administration had ordered the software firms to stop selling their services to Chinese groups.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi at San Francisco AAPI Roundtable: “Our seniors and children are not waste, fraud and abuse.”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    San Francisco – Today, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi hosted an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month roundtable with San Francisco’s Asian Pacific Islander Council, bringing together community leaders to address the devastating impacts of the Trump Administration’s budget cuts on AAPI communities.

    The roundtable featured key speakers, including Cally Wong, Executive Director of the API Council; Lance Toma, CEO of the San Francisco Community Health Center; Dr. Jian Zhang, CEO of Chinese Hospital; Jon Osaki, Executive Director of JCYC; Judy Young, Executive Director of the Southeast Asian Development Center; Luisa Antonio, Executive Director of the Bayanihan Equity Center; and Tammy Hung, Deputy Director of Programs at the Chinatown Community Development Center.

    The event highlighted how Republican attacks on health care, housing and educational resources have compounded the challenges facing AAPI communities—particularly in San Francisco. Participants shared firsthand accounts of the real-world consequences of these policy decisions and emphasized the urgency of standing united to defend the health, dignity and opportunity of AAPI families.

    Watch the full roundtable here. View photos from today’s event here.

    Read excerpts of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s remarks as delivered below:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Good afternoon. It is my privilege to join this distinguished group of AAPI leaders for this important roundtable discussion.

    Thank you for your leadership in so many ways. And to each of you—thank you. We’ve had our interactions at your places of leadership and service. Thank you for what you all do.

    To the AAPI leaders who are gathered here for this roundtable discussion: I salute Cally Wong for her tireless leadership at the API Council, an unyielding voice for equity and justice in the Bay Area and well beyond that.

    It’s a thrill to be here at the Japanese Community Youth Council. Thank you, Jon, for your leadership as a model of culture and diversity in the Bay Area.
    …
    How special it is that we gather during AAPI Heritage Month.
    …
    Asian Pacific Americans’ entrepreneurial spirit, courage and patriotism has strengthened the foundation of our nation and made America more American.
    …
    We take great pride in our vibrant, diverse—very diverse—community, as we can see here. And the Bay Area has been so enriched by the community. And you know that. We’ll hear more about that.

    Now then, I want to just say that—you know, we’re in a situation right now where the Republicans have said, ‘Whatever you want to do for your communities, it cannot have anything to do with health, education, the arts, museums, libraries, diversity…’ I mean, they’re just undermining the culture that is America. Because diversity, of course, is our strength.

    But I was able to get the Southeast Asian Development Center to help purchase a new building with $1 million, and $850,000 for AsianWeek Foundation. But what they’re doing is such an insult.

    It’s because the cuts that are in the budget already—and I say already because I’ll get to another point—help older Asian American adults learn to use digital technology. They’re cutting that. Combat anti-Asian hate? They’re cutting that. Advise low-income tenants facing eviction? They’re cutting that.

    Here at the JCYC, President Trump’s budget cuts $2.6 million in funding, which provides college advising and preparation services for thousands of low-income youth in San Francisco. They’re cutting that.

    Republicans are hurting our most vulnerable communities to provide tax cuts for the richest people in the country.

    At the same time, they’re pushing a bill through Congress that slashes $300 billion from SNAP. Food out of the mouths of babies to give billionaires a tax cut. $700 billion from Medicaid. That means $1 trillion in cuts just from those two things.

    Now, the Congressional Budget Office—the CBO, which we’re supposed to obey (but they have said they’re not necessarily going to do that)—has said with those cuts, it generates $500 billion in cuts to Medicare. Medicaid: $700 billion. Medicare: $500 billion. SNAP: $300 billion.

    In meeting the needs of people—and you know what they call it? ‘Waste, fraud, and abuse.’ We say back to them: Our seniors, our children—they are not waste, fraud, and abuse! You’ve got a claim? Show us what it is. But we haven’t seen that yet.

    In any event—it’s Robin Hood in reverse. Take from the needy and give to the rich. That’s the Republican Robin Hood in reverse.
    …
    And when they say ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’—show us. What is it? We don’t want any waste, fraud and abuse. But we don’t consider feeding our children waste, fraud and abuse. Or helping our people with disabilities. Or our seniors who need long-term health care and the rest of that. We don’t consider that waste, fraud and abuse.

    If you do—because you want to give tax cuts to billionaires—that’s your waste, fraud, and abuse. Because that’s not what our—A budget should be a statement of values.

    What is important to us as a nation should be reflected in our budget. For our children, their health, their education, the economic security of their families, safe, clean neighborhoods in which they can thrive—including from gun violence—and a world at peace in which they can thrive.

    That’s not what this budget is about. It’s about tax cuts for the wealthiest people.

    Now, you may recall that when—what’s his name—was in office before, and the Republicans had the majority for two years until we, with your help, defeated them—they had one bill that Republicans only passed.

    It was their tax bill. And it gave 83% of the benefits to the top 1%. Eighty-three percent of the benefits to the top 1%. And added $2 trillion to the national debt.

    Oh, big talk: ‘Oh, we’re fiscally responsible.’ $2 trillion in national debt. Not creating jobs or anything—just a tax cut.

    This time, they’re going beyond that. They’ll probably add closer to $4 trillion to the national debt to give a bigger tax cut to the high end—while they cut SNAP. Food—taking food from the mouths of babies—to give a tax cut to the richest people.

    So this is about their lack of values.

    And you know, I’ve been in Congress a long time—thanks to all of you—and we’ve had our disagreements [with Republicans] about policy and the rest, and that’s legitimate, to have disagreement.

    But this is criminal.

    It’s not only criminal. It’s illegal in terms of what the law requires them to do.

    So again—we don’t agonize. We organize. And that’s what we’re going to talk about today.
    …
    And we can only do so much inside maneuvering. The outside mobilization—know your power in all of this.

    And that’s why I want to hear freshly what you have to say. Every day it makes a difference.
    …
    But again, Jon, thank you for your hospitality. It’s great to be here. It looks good. Place looks good. And the JCYC—just so remarkable.

    But so are all of you here.

    Now, Cally Wong has been the Executive Director of the API Council. Some of us have been together when we’ve had these meetings before. And she has led the way—as she will today.

    Cally, thank you. Cally, thank you for your leadership.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Q&A: AI and Privacy: The Foundation You Can’t Ignore

    Source: Privacy Commissioner

    Question

    Answer

    What is a non-OneDrive example of where content stores are risky? 

    Shared file servers, Dropbox, and email inboxes are all non-OneDrive examples. From a governance standpoint, personal OneDrive should be treated as temporary storage for drafts, not for long-term collaboration.

    Wouldn’t AI assess value (also) based on date and on words like ‘draft’? Can it be told to e.g disregard a doc with ‘confidential’ in the title or filename?

    Yes, AI can be trained to factor in metadata like document age or certain keywords. But this approach is limited and unreliable on its own. A much safer and more robust method is to apply sensitivity labels and metadata rules that formally control how content is handled. For example, Microsoft 365 tools allow you to restrict AI access based on classification, file type, or protection labels – making it much easier to enforce privacy at scale.

    For your recruitment example, what about the situation where we ‘keep a CV on file for future opportunities’? Is that not really a realistic thing to do? 

    It’s a common practice, but it needs to be done with care. You should define a retention period (e.g. 12 months), communicate this to applicants, and allow them to request deletion after the recruitment process. Also consider legal hold requirements, in case the process is challenged. Ideally, this is built into your recruitment case file template with the default settings pre-applied but flexible for roles like a Chief Executive.

    How does one get buy-in from leadership to prioritise these strategies?

    Focus on risk. Identify the highest-risk content (e.g. HR, contracts, or customer data), quantify the potential fallout of a breach, and show how practical steps can reduce exposure. You could use this session’s video or invite an external review to present findings. Often, a short, high level assessment is enough to spark action, especially when linked to regulatory or reputational risk.

    Is Teams not safe? Is SharePoint safer to collaborate internally with staff?

    They work together. Teams stores files in SharePoint and OneDrive behind the scenes. Both can be made safe with the right setup: applying retention rules, sensitivity labels, metadata, and access controls. What matters is structure. For example, a recruitment team site can be tightly scoped with the right protections, so that only authorised people can access specific content and only for as long as it’s needed.

    Love the approach to start with high-risk areas for labelling etc. HR, Legal – where else should we start? 

    Start with areas that handle high-stakes personal or sensitive data. This often includes customer service (names, addresses, complaints), regulatory consultations, and internal incident management. The key is to understand what information is created and used as part of your core business processes and to apply structured governance there first.

    So AI can really access anything on OneDrive or Teams? Is this just within the organisation or external as well? Otherwise, why would anyone even use these platforms if they are so unsecure? 

    AI like Microsoft Copilot can only access what the individual user has permission to see – it doesn’t open up content to the outside world.But not all AI tools are created equal. If you’re using a third-party tool (like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude), and it’s trained on your inputs, there’s a much higher risk. Always confirm the scope, access, and data use policies of any AI platform you’re considering.

    Do you think the large number of apps and programs teams (sometime multiple to communicate across) use is exposing organisations to greater risk?

    Absolutely. Every new app increases your attack surface. But this isn’t just a Microsoft problem, the pre-Teams world was full of risky, unstructured tools too. The strength of Microsoft 365 lies in its potential to consolidate and govern information. The challenge is to use it well: with structured Teams templates, sensible defaults, and good training. Done right, it can significantly reduce risk.

    Thanks Sarah. Do you do any other lectures or information sessions? It’s great to get this wide view and ideas about where to start and how to progress.

    Yes! We have recorded sessions available on our website, and we’re running upcoming workshops (June–August) on managing “high-stakes content” – covering privacy, confidentiality, and governance in practice. Let us know if you’d like an invitation.

    Thanks for the presentation Sarah. What is an IPC Workspace? 

    It depends. Privacy Officers bring the compliance lens. IT provides the tools. HR, Finance, or Operations may own the business processes. Often, the best results come from collaboration across roles – sometimes led by a CISO, or through a digital transformation project. We’re often asked to create a scoping report first – identifying key risks and recommending a practical, cross-functional way forward.

    What do you think about using AI to help you to manage your content e.g., highlight risk, old info, differing information etc.

    There’s real promise here, especially in auto classifying content or flagging risk patterns. But you need to ensure the AI only sees your data and doesn’t feed it back into public training sets. We’re working with AI to assist classification and retention. That said, good design still matters. When workspaces are built with clear rules and defaults, risk is reduced without relying solely on AI.

    I also wonder about why we don’t explicitly reference commercial sensitivity in privacy conversations. Do these have different considerations?

    It’s a great point. While commercial sensitivity isn’t covered under the Privacy Act, the governance techniques are the same: structured storage, restricted access, retention rules, and labelling. These protect business secrets just as effectively as personal information.

    (Would) one of the risks for using AI would be misinformation and manipulation?

    Definitely. Especially when AI pulls from poor-quality or untrusted sources – or if it mixes draft and final content. That’s why it’s critical to structure what AI can access and ensure human review remains part of the workflow. At this point in time, AI should be helpful, not authoritative.

    Thanks Sarah, I was at the 7th Data conference, IM only got mentioned once when it came to AI… just the once, be good to get this message in front of that crowd if you can.

    Agreed!!!

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Operational event at Taishan Nuclear Power Station

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Operational event at Taishan Nuclear Power Station???
         Taishan Nuclear Power Joint Venture Co Ltd has reported the relevant situation to the nuclear safety regulatory authority in a timely manner, and will conduct internal experience review. It has also released the details of this event on its website (www.tnpjvc.com.cnIssued at HKT 12:15

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • Market open in green; Sensex tops 81,500, Nifty near 24810

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Thursday amid positive global cues, as buying was seen in the IT and metal sectors in the early trade.

    At 9:29 am, the BSE Sensex was up 237.56 points or 0.29 per cent at 81,549.88, while the NSE Nifty rose 57 points or 0.23 per cent to trade at 24,809.45.

    Sectoral indices also showed strength, with the Nifty Bank gaining 86.95 points or 0.16 per cent to 55,503.95. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was up 105.80 points or 0.19 per cent at 57,247.20, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 rose by 85.20 points or 0.48 per cent to 17,869.20.

    Despite the Nifty declining for the past two sessions, analysts noted a drop in the India VIX, indicating a lack of demand for downside protection—typically not seen when investor sentiment is bearish.

    “The 24,462 level remains crucial to determine whether this is a temporary dip or the beginning of a deeper correction. As long as the Nifty holds above this level, it remains a buyer’s market,” said Akshay Chinchalkar, Head of Research at Axis Securities.

    Among the top performers in the Sensex pack were Infosys, Tata Steel, Tech Mahindra, Sun Pharma, HCL Tech, Tata Motors, HDFC Bank, Power Grid, TCS and L&T. Bajaj Finance was the only stock in the red during early trade.

    Asian markets also opened in the green, with indices in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul, China, and Japan trading higher. Jakarta was the only notable exception, trading lower.

    On Wall Street, the previous session ended in losses. The Dow Jones closed at 42,098.70, down 244.95 points or 0.58 per cent. The S&P 500 fell 32.99 points or 0.56 per cent to 5,888.55, while the Nasdaq slipped 98.23 points or 0.51 per cent to 19,100.94.

    Market sentiment remained sensitive to global developments, including U.S. tariff-related news. “The U.S. Federal Court striking down the reciprocal tariffs sends a strong message—that the President cannot act unilaterally against the interests of the market and the economy,” said Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

    On the institutional front, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers on May 28, purchasing equities worth ₹4,662.92 crore. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) also continued their buying spree, picking up stocks worth ₹7,911.99 crore.

    — IANS

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Have your say on the Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill

    Source: New Zealand Parliament –

    The objective of the bill is to improve timeliness in New Zealand’s courts by maximising judicial resources. It aims to ensure that judicial time is focused on the most critical tasks and decisions.

    The bill would amend the Senior Courts Act 2016, the Criminal Procedure Act 2011, and the Coroners Act 2006. It would:

    • increase by two the number of High Court Judges that could be appointed, from 55 to 57
    • make procedural amendments to minimise the volume of proceedings that abuse the process of the courts
    • reduce duplication at the pre-trial stage and maximise the use of judicial and court resources
    • allow appeals to the Court of Appeals relating to District Court decisions to be heard by a court at the appropriate level
    • enable coroners to close an inquiry if it were no longer appropriate to conduct an inquiry because of new information or changed circumstances.

    Tell the Justice Committee what you think

    Make a submission on the bill by 1pm on Wednesday 25 June 2025.

     

    For more details about the bill:

    ENDS

    For media enquiries contact:

    Justice Committee staff

    04 817 9520 / justice@parliament.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Film Archive to present free screenings of Cantonese opera-themed film classic “The Dutiful Daughter Chu-chu” (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Film Archive to present free screenings of Cantonese opera-themed film classic “The Dutiful Daughter Chu-chu”  
         Connie Chan Po-chu plays the lead role of Chu-chu, who earns money by disguising herself as a Japanese acrobat in an amusement park in order to support her mother in the hospital. After meeting Cantonese opera actor Wong, played by Lam Kar-sing, Chu-chu is inspired by Wong and decides to learn Cantonese opera from Wong and his master Pak, played by the “King of Wusheng” Lan Chi Pak, to make an honest living.
     
    Much of the film focuses on Chu-chu’s Cantonese opera training sessions under Wong and Pak, which are realistic and compelling portrayals of how the traditional art form is preserved and passed on through generations. Lam, who is also the film’s operatic director, showcased his solid Cantonese opera skills, embodying the awe-inspiring charisma and essence of the art form. The appearance of Lan Chi Pak in modern attire in the film is also a rare sight on screen.
     
         The film will be screened in three time slots at noon, 3pm and 6pm on June 21 at the HKFA Cinema, accompanied by pre-screening talks hosted by film critic Grace Ng.
     
         Admission is free with tickets to be distributed starting from June 1 (Sunday) at the information counter of the HKFA on Mondays and from Wednesdays to Sundays from 10am to 8pm. Each person can receive up to two tickets on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last. Limited walk-in seats will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and members of the public are welcome to queue up at the 1/F Foyer of the HKFA 45 minutes before the screening begins. Each person can register for one ticket while stocks last.
     
         For programme details, please visit www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2025/ich-month-2025/pe-event-2025-chu-chu.html 
         Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 is presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the LCSD, with ICH June as a strategic partner. For details of the programmes, please visit the website     www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/hk_ich_month_2025.htmlIssued at HKT 12:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Above average bushfire risk expected for large parts of Victoria this winter

    Source:

    Increased fire risk in Victoria throughout winter

    Victorians are facing an increased bushfire risk across much of the state after a warm and dry autumn, according to the Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for winter, released today.

    *Emergency Management Victoria’s media release

    March and April saw the fourth highest temperatures on record, below average rainfall across much of Victoria and an extension of the Fire Danger Period in some parts of the state for the first time since 2019.

    These conditions, coupled with existing underlying dryness, has led to a higher level of dried grass and vegetation. In grassland, halted pasture growth has led to grazed-out or bare conditions.

    As a result, an above average bushfire risk is predicted for much of southwest Gippsland, extending into central, southwest and northwest Victoria, as well as parts of northeast Victoria this winter. The increased risk isn’t for long-running bushfires, but events caused by uncontrolled burn-offs and other activities.  

    Normal rainfall is expected this winter, and Victorians can expect normal fire potential across the rest of the state. However, fires are possible on dry and windy days in areas with dry or cured vegetation.

    Even in winter, it’s vital for communities to remain vigilant, particularly if burning-off. Register your burn-off and monitor weather conditions. Have sufficient equipment and water to stop the fire spreading and never leave a burn-off unattended.

    The emergency management sector is continuing its preparedness activities with statewide briefings and state-level exercising. Incident management personnel are doing all they can to prepare for emerging risks and respond to any emergencies. 

    The Seasonal Outlook for winter is developed by the Australian and New Zealand Fire and Emergency Services Council (AFAC) and supported by the Bureau of Meteorology, along with state and territory fire and land managers

    It’s important for communities to understand their local risks. Keep up to date with the Fire Danger Ratings on the VicEmergency app and VicEmergency website.

    Quotes attributable to Acting Country Fire Authority Chief Officer Garry Cook AFSM

    “The lack of rainfall and dry vegetation across many parts of the state is a great concern for firefighters this time of the year and we’re asking people to remain vigilant and not become complacent just because we’re not in summer anymore.

    “While cooler days are arriving, the landscape remains dry enough to allow fires to start and spread quickly if a burn-off gets out of control, especially when coupled with strong winds.

    “The impact and damage of an escaped fire on local communities and emergency services can be devastating.”

    Submitted by CFA media

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Father calls for smoke alarms in all bedrooms

    Source:

    Fire Rescue Victoria Deputy Commissioner, Community Safety, Joshua Fischer, Ashlea and Michael Vamplew with Harlow and Cranbourne Fire Brigade CFA member Zoe Russell.

    A Cranbourne father who saved his daughter when a fire broke out in their family home is calling on Victorians to fit smoke alarms in all bedrooms.

    The call comes as the latest figures show that between May 2024 and May 2025, FRV and CFA responded to more than 1,880 residential fires across Victoria, while 18 people died in preventable house fires during 2024.

    Most fatal fires and those that cause serious injuries occur in bedrooms and living areas, however, FRV and CFA’s most recent survey of Victorians revealed just 17 percent of Victorians are protected by smoke alarms in their bedrooms.

    On a cold August night last year, Michael Vamplew and his partner Ashlea woke to hear their two-year-old daughter Harlow screaming for help, after a fire took hold in her bedroom when her bed linen was ignited by a malfunctioning nightlight and powerboard.

    Despite having smoke alarms installed in the hallways, no alarm was triggered as Harlow’s bedroom door was closed, containing most of the smoke inside.

    “We heard her scream and call for help. I saw smoke rolling out beneath her bedroom door,” said Mr Vamplew.

    “I knew we were in trouble and did what any other parent would do – the door was swollen shut from the heat of the fire, so I kicked it down. I just prayed that my daughter was safe. As I opened the door, she was standing there and I just grabbed her.”

    Mr Vamplew saw flames had engulfed the majority of Harlow’s bedroom, from floor to ceiling.

    “If there was a smoke alarm in the bedroom, it would have picked up the initial smoke before there was such a large fire,” he said.

    In line with the family’s home fire escape plan, while Mr Vamplew got Harlow to safety, Ashlea helped to evacuate the other children and contacted the authorities with FRV and CFA arriving to tackle the blaze. Harlow was treated for third degree burns to her feet.

    The Vamplews have since installed interconnected smoke alarms throughout their home so when one alarm activates, all will now sound.

    “Everyone should definitely have smoke alarms in their bedrooms because they allow you to act before it is too late,” said Mr Vamplew.

    “We have three children under four and if the fire had been in our one-year-old’s room, then the situation could have been significantly worse.”

    Fire Rescue Victoria Deputy Commissioner, Community Safety, Joshua Fischer hopes the Vamplew family’s lucky escape sends a strong message to all Victorians.

    “What happened to the Vamplew family clearly demonstrates why it is so vital to have smoke alarms fitted in every bedroom of your home,” said Joshua.

    CFA Acting Chief Officer Garry Cook hoped this Smoke Alarm Action Day (1 June), residents feel prompted to reevaluate the placement and condition of their smoke alarms.

    “We know fire risk is greatest when you are asleep, because we can lose our sense of smell. Without a working smoke alarm in your bedroom, your family may not wake up in time to safely escape,” Garry said.

    When checking, installing, or replacing your smoke alarms, FRV and CFA advises:

    • Only working smoke alarms save lives.
    • Smoke alarms should also be installed in every bedroom and living area.
    • Smoke alarms must be located between each bedroom area and the rest of the house and on each level.
    • Smoke alarms should be installed on the ceiling at least 30cm from the wall or installed on the wall at least 30cm from the ceiling to avoid dead air space.
    • Smoke alarms should be interconnected, so when any alarm is activated, all smoke alarms will sound.
    • Fire services recommend the use of smoke alarms powered by a 10-year long life battery.
    • Smoke alarms should be tested monthly by pressing the test button on the alarm and waiting for the test alarm to sound.
    • Smoke alarms should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or dusted at least once a year to remove particles that will affect smoke alarm performance.
    • Replaceable batteries in a smoke alarm need to be changed yearly.
    • Smoke alarms, including those attached to mains power, should be replaced every 10 years
    • For more information, go to www.vic.gov.au/smoke-alarms
    Submitted by CFA media

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Wind turbine fire kept crews busy overnight

    Source:

    CFA crews were kept busy last night with a wind turbine fire at a wind farm in Great Western.

    The wind farm fire began at about 9.30pm on Wednesday 28 May and seven CFA units from Ararat, Stawell and Great Western fire brigades attended the scene.

    CFA District 16 Commander Ben Townsend said the fire was monitored by the company last night and crews were called back when it reignited at about 3.20am.

    “CFA crews that attended did what they could do to create safety zones and remained clear of the structure,” Ben said.

    “Crews were initially called out because the main body of the wind turbine was on fire. They contacted the operator of the turbines and shut them down.

    “Crews left the scene in the hands of the owners to monitor and just after 3am they got called back because a blade had caught fire, dislodged and fell to the ground.”

    The scene is now under control and will be investigated.

    Submitted by CFA media

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Burnie man on firearms charge

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Burnie man on firearms charge

    Thursday, 29 May 2025 – 2:15 pm.

    A 64-year-old man has been arrested and remanded in custody after the discovery of illicit drugs and a homemade gun at a Burnie residence.
    The arrest follows the search of a property in the suburb of Romaine on Monday, where Tasmania Police allege a quantity of illicit substances and a homemade firearm were located.
    The Burnie man was taken into custody and has since been remanded to appear in court at a later date.
    Police remain committed to targeting the possession and distribution of illicit substances and unlawful firearms in the community.
    Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or via the website at www.crimestopperstas.com.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: After a chaotic 6 months, South Koreans will elect a new president – and hope for bold leadership

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Alexander M. Hynd, Lecturer, Korean Politics/International Relations, The University of Melbourne

    On June 3, South Koreans will head to the polls to choose the country’s new president. The election may draw to a close one of the most chaotic and contentious periods in the country’s post-1987 democratic era.

    South Korea has been embroiled in a political crisis since December, when former President Yoon Suk Yeol disastrously declared martial law.

    Yoon ordered security forces to block lawmakers from entering the National Assembly, leading to a dramatic late night confrontation. His unconstitutional decree was overturned after just six hours.

    The fall-out was equally dramatic: Yoon was impeached and removed from office in a drawn-out process that was not finally resolved until April.

    This period coincided with massive street demonstrations both opposing and supporting Yoon, a far-right assault on a courthouse and a physical stand-off between investigators and Yoon’s personal security team.

    The country, meanwhile, has cycled through three short-lived caretaker leaders.

    With weak economic growth and high costs of living, in addition to an equally challenging security environment, South Korea is in desperate need of bold and effective leadership.

    Who are the candidates?

    The Democratic Party’s Lee Jae-myung is the clear frontrunner to be the next president, after finishing a close second in the previous 2022 election.

    Recent polling put the veteran left-leaning politician at around 49% support as the race entered the final week.

    This is a double-digit lead over his main conservative opponent, Kim Moon-soo, polling at 35%. Another conservative candidate, Lee Jun-seok, is polling at 11%. Notably, for the first time since 2007, there are no female candidates standing to be president.

    The high levels of support for Lee Jae-myung suggest a widespread desire among the public to repudiate Yoon’s martial law declaration.

    Kim, the labour minister in Yoon’s administration, has apologised for December’s declaration. But his opponents have continued to question him about it.

    Kim’s challenge has been to build a coalition of moderates and mainstream conservatives who firmly opposed the martial law declaration, while also winning support from those who believe far-right conspiracy theories around election fraud. Yoon, the former president, is continuing to promote these narratives.

    Lee’s compelling background

    Lee Jae-myung’s personal story has uplifting parallels with South Korea’s own history of economic and political development.

    Lee was born into poverty; the exact date of his birth is not known. He worked in factories from a very young age and permanently injured his left arm in an industrial accident when he was still a child.

    Lee went on to earn a scholarship to study law and, by the late 1980s, had established himself as a labour lawyer and activist.

    This activist image was highlighted when he live-streamed himself dramatically scaling a fence to enter the National Assembly and vote down Yoon’s martial law declaration in December. He has previously compared himself to populist, progressive US Senator Bernie Sanders.

    More recently, however, he has moderated his political rhetoric and policy platform to appeal to centrists and even some conservative voters.

    This shift may also help shield Lee from the “red-baiting” claims left-leaning South Korean candidates typically face from conservative opponents that they are “communists”, “pro-China”, or “pro-North Korea”.

    But Lee is also plagued by legal troubles, including corruption charges linked to a land development project. These charges, frequently highlighted by his opponents, risk derailing his administration if he wins the election.

    What are the main issues?

    Some international commentators have focused on how the next president will handle North Korea. South Koreans, however, are more interested in the candidates’ plans to fix the country’s troubled economy.

    Lee Jae-myung has pledged to immediately establish an emergency economic taskforce if he takes office.

    There has also been a vigorous debate over South Korea’s future energy policy. Kim favours expanding nuclear energy production to around 60% of the country’s energy mix. Lee has voiced safety concerns about nuclear power, arguing “the era of building more reactors should come to an end”.

    Additionally, questions remain over potential constitutional reform to end South Korea’s so-called “imperial presidency” system, which has been blamed for centralising too much power in the hands of the president.

    The system dates back to the rewriting of the constitution following mass protests in 1987. This established direct presidential elections and a single, five-year term.

    Both Lee and Kim support changing this to a four-year, two-term presidential system, similar to the United States.

    Big challenges lie ahead

    On the international stage, the new leader will face an uphill battle negotiating with US President Donald Trump over his punitive tariffs. Trump imposed 25% tariffs on South Korean goods in April, but lowered them temporarily to 10% until early July.

    Before his impeachment, Yoon was widely reported to be practising his golf skills to attempt to find common ground with Trump, much as former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did.

    The new leader will also face massive challenges bringing South Korean society together in the current climate. Political polarisation and the spread of disinformation worsened under Yoon’s presidency – and these trends will be hard to reverse.

    Alexander M. Hynd 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. After a chaotic 6 months, South Koreans will elect a new president – and hope for bold leadership – https://theconversation.com/after-a-chaotic-6-months-south-koreans-will-elect-a-new-president-and-hope-for-bold-leadership-257348

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Can you handle the Deadlift?

    Source: US Army (video statements)

    U.S. Soldiers assigned to 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment participated in the Bearing the Burden deadlift competition in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

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

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

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQwBkzCw7aA

    MIL OSI Video –

  • Elon Musk leaving Trump administration, capping turbulent tenure

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk is leaving the Trump administration after leading a tumultuous efficiency drive, during which he upended several federal agencies, but ultimately failed to deliver the generational savings he had sought.

    His “off-boarding will begin tonight,” a White House official told Reuters late Wednesday, confirming Musk’s departure from government. Musk earlier on Wednesday took to his social media platform X to thank President Donald Trump as his time as a special government employee with the Department of Government Efficiency draws to an end.

    His departure was quick and unceremonious. He did not have a formal conversation with Trump before announcing his exit, according to a source with knowledge of the matter, who added that his departure was decided “at a senior staff level.”

    While the precise circumstances of his exit were not immediately clear, he leaves a day after criticizing Trump’s marquee tax bill, calling it too expensive and a measure that would undermine his work with the U.S. DOGE Service.

    Some senior White House officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, were particularly irked by those comments, and the White House was forced to call Republican senators to reiterate Trump’s support for the package, a source familiar with the matter said.

    While Musk remains close to the president, his exit comes after a gradual, but steady slide in standing.

    After Trump’s inauguration, the billionaire quickly emerged as a powerful force in Trump’s orbit: hyper-visible, unapologetically brash and unfettered by traditional norms. At the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, he brandished a red metallic chainsaw to wild cheers. “This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy,” he declared.

    On the campaign trail, Musk had said DOGE would be able to cut at least $2 trillion in federal spending. He did not hide his animus for the federal workforce, and he predicted that revoking “the COVID-era privilege” of telework would trigger “a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome.”

    But some cabinet members who initially embraced Musk’s outsider energy grew wary of his tactics, sources said. Over time, they grew more confident pushing back against his job cuts, encouraged by Trump’s reminder in early March that staffing decisions rested with department secretaries, not with Musk.

    Musk clashed with three of Trump’s most senior cabinet members – Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He called Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro a “moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks.” Navarro dismissed the insults, saying, “I’ve been called worse.”

    At the same time, Musk began to hint that his time in government would come to a close, while expressing frustration at times that he could not more aggressively cut spending.

    In an April 22 Tesla conference call, he signaled he would be significantly scaling back his government work to focus on his businesses.

    DOGE GOES ON

    Musk’s 130-day mandate as a special government employee in the Trump administration was set to expire around May 30. The administration has said DOGE’s efforts to restructure and shrink the federal government will continue.

    “The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” Musk said.

    Trump and DOGE have managed to cut nearly 12%, or 260,000, of the 2.3 million-strong federal civilian workforce largely through threats of firings, buyouts and early retirement offers, a Reuters review of agency departures found.

    Musk on Tuesday criticized the price tag of Republicans’ tax and budget legislation making its way through Congress.

    “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,” Musk told CBS News.

    His political activities have drawn protests and some investors have called for him to leave his work as Trump’s adviser and more closely manage Tesla, which has seen falls in sales and its stock price.

    Musk, the world’s richest person, has defended his role as an unelected official who was granted unprecedented authority by Trump to dismantle parts of the U.S. government.

    Having spent nearly $300 million to back Trump’s presidential campaign and other Republicans last year, he said earlier this month he would substantially cut his political spending.

    “I think I’ve done enough,” Musk said at an economic forum in Qatar.

    (Reuters)

  • PM Modi to launch development projects in Sikkim, Bengal today

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Sikkim and West Bengal today to launch a series of development projects and participate in the golden jubilee celebrations of Sikkim’s statehood.

    At Paljor Stadium in Gangtok, the Prime Minister will attend the event titled ‘Sikkim@50: Where Progress Meets Purpose and Nature Nurtures Growth’, marking 50 years since the former kingdom became the 22nd state of India. Sikkim’s statehood in 1975 followed a historic referendum that ended its monarchy and facilitated its merger with the Indian Union. The state was granted special constitutional protection under Article 371F, aimed at preserving its unique ethnic identity and cultural traditions.

    Over the last five decades, Sikkim has gained recognition for its sustainable development practices and environmental efforts. The state government has planned a year-long celebration under the theme ‘Sunaulo, Samriddha and Samarth Sikkim’, honouring its cultural richness and developmental journey.

    During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for multiple development initiatives, including a new 500-bedded district hospital in Namchi, a passenger ropeway at Sangachoeling in Gyalshing district, and a statue of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Amrit Udyan in Gangtok district. He will also release a commemorative coin, souvenir coin and stamp to mark the 50th anniversary of Sikkim’s statehood.

    In preparation for the Prime Minister’s visit, the Sikkim government issued an advisory announcing the temporary closure of offices and schools in Gangtok and imposed traffic restrictions across key routes. Formal invitations were extended to all senior officials, including Deputy Secretaries and Under Secretaries, along with staff from various departments and public sector undertakings.

    Later in the day, PM Modi will visit Alipurduar in West Bengal, where he will lay the foundation stone for the City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts. The initiative is aimed at expanding clean energy infrastructure in the region.

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell on Trade Court Decision Striking Down Trump’s Global Tariffs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    05.28.25

    Cantwell on Trade Court Decision Striking Down Trump’s Global Tariffs

    EDMONDS, WA– Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, praised the U.S. Court of International Trade for striking down Donald Trump’s global tariffs, which amounted to massive new taxes on American consumers:

    “I am glad the Court of International Trade unanimously recognized that the President exceeded his authority. We need trade to flow through our ports. The remaining 10 percent global tariffs on Europe and 30 percent tariff on China should be lifted to lower prices for American families and to stabilize supply chains for US manufacturers. And Congress and the courts should take a close look at the other tariffs the president has planned.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Indonesia and France strengthen ties

    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

    JAKARTA, May 29 (Xinhua) — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday received French President Emmanuel Macron in Jakarta for high-level talks on key sectors including defense, energy, economy, investment, education and transportation.

    “Today we agreed to move forward by adopting a common vision to celebrate 100 years of Indonesian-French relations by 2050,” P. Subianto said at a joint press conference following the meeting.

    In the defense sector, both countries pledged to strengthen cooperation, including efforts to build human resource capacity. On the economic front, both leaders expressed support for more balanced trade and investment ties.

    “Our ties are strengthening in various areas, especially in energy, food security, free food and maritime affairs,” the Indonesian president said.

    Bilateral relations have also improved in the areas of culture, creative economy, transport and education, he added.

    During the visit, a total of 21 cooperation documents were signed or presented, reflecting a strong commitment to bilateral cooperation.

    These agreements cover a variety of formats and areas, such as defence, agriculture, essential minerals, sustainable forestry, creative and cultural industries, disaster risk management, transport and sport. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The principle of “two states for two peoples” is under threat of failure: UN envoy

    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

    UNITED NATIONS, May 28 (Xinhua) — The United Nations special coordinator a.i. for the Middle East peace process Sigrid Kaag on Wednesday warned that the “two states for two peoples” solution is in danger of being undermined, calling for collective action to restore it.

    “The principle of ‘two states for two peoples’ is in danger of being disrupted. Its revival requires collective action,” said S. Kaag. “Peace cannot be a deal or a partial, temporary agreement. It must be based on international consensus and legitimacy, moving from conflict management to its end.”

    There can be no sustainable peace in the Middle East without a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The region’s future will remain linked to its unresolved past unless bold political will and solutions break the vicious circle, she told the Security Council.

    Palestinian statehood is a right, not a reward, she said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Promotes Digital Transformation of Electronic Information Manufacturing Sector

    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

    BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) — China has released a plan to implement digital transformation of the electronic information manufacturing industry, setting a target for large enterprises to have the digital management ratio at key stages of the production process exceed 85 percent by 2027.

    The plan, released jointly by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other government agencies, stressed that the electronic information production industry is a strategic, fundamental and innovative sector of the national economy.

    According to the plan, this industry, characterized by large scale, long industrial chains and wide coverage, plays a key role in integrating the real economy and the digital economy, promoting new-type industrialization, and cultivating and building up new-quality productive forces.

    The plan also notes that by 2027, a new type of information infrastructure will be established that will greatly promote the digital transformation and intelligent upgrading of the electronic information production industry. Through this infrastructure, advanced computing and artificial intelligence will be deeply integrated into the development of the industry.

    It is expected that by 2030, a relatively advanced data infrastructure system for the electronic information production industry will be established, and the industrial database will be basically formed. In addition, by this time, a series of flagship intelligent products will also be developed and a digital ecosystem will be formed.

    The efficiency and quality of digital transformation will be significantly improved, with further breakthroughs expected in its expansion to the top of the global value chain by 2030, the plan says.

    According to the document, efforts will also be made to promote digital transformation across the entire industrial chain and accelerate the testing and deployment of innovative products such as smart wearables and smart robots. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Tours Springwood Ranch, Hears From Yakama Nation Members and Local Stakeholders About Historic Co-Management Project

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***PHOTOS HERE***

    Thorp, WA — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited Kittitas County to tour the Springwood Ranch, which was recently acquired as part of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan (YBIP) after many years of effort by the Yakama Nation and stakeholders. Springwood Ranch is now jointly owned by the Yakama Nation, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Kittitas County, and the Kittitas Reclamation District. YBIP brings together state, federal, tribal, agricultural, and environmental stakeholders to develop a comprehensive strategy for water resource management and ecosystem restoration in the Yakima basin.

    On the visit, Senator Murray heard from Yakama Nation members and local stakeholders about how the purchase of Springwood Ranch was a major victory for the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. Springwood Ranch has served as a traditional gathering spot for Yakama Nation tribes, and has been used as a venue for tribal gatherings, trade events, and recreation for centuries. The 3,600 acres of land at Springwood Ranch will continue being used for cultural purposes as well as agriculture, habitat restoration along the 6.5 miles of Yakima River on the property, and an off-channel reservoir for vital water storage for the region. Joining Senator Murray for the visit were: Phil Rigdon, DNR Superintendent, Yakama Nation; Joe Blodgett, Project Policy Coordinator, Yakama Nation Fisheries; David Blodgett, Program Manager, Yakama Nation Fisheries; Urban Eberhart, Manager, Kittitas Reclamation District; Mike Livingston, South Central Regional Director (Region 3), Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife; Caseymac Wallahee, Yakama Nation Tribal Council; and Peter Dykstra with the Trust for Public Land, among others.

    “I was glad to have the opportunity to join members of the Yakama Nation and local leaders to tour just some of the 3,600 acres of Springwood Ranch and see the reservoir firsthand, which will provide critical water storage and protect fisheries and agriculture in the Yakima Basin against drought. It was important to hear from Tribal members and stakeholders about what their priorities and plans are as this project moves forward, and how I can support them in their work to manage these lands and historic sites,” said Senator Murray. “This collaboration will improve water resources for nearby farms, safeguard critical wildlife habitat, all while honoring and preserving the cultural heritage of the Yakama Nation—it’s a true win-win for communities across the Yakima Basin and I couldn’t be more excited for the future of Springwood Ranch.”

    “In 2025, the Yakima Basin is struggling through its third consecutive year of drought with the pro-ratable water users receiving 48 percent of our water supply. This drought is having a negative impact on both farms and fish. The Yakima Basin Integrated Plan partners appreciate Senator Murray making the time to visit the Springwood Reservoir project site. The construction of this reservoir will help meet the goals of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan to provide this region with a strong economy and healthy ecosystem into the future,” said Kittitas Reclamation District Manager Urban Eberhart.

    “The message that we need to carry on is the collaboration that’s taking place in this whole project. Look at what we can do when we have all these interest groups, with different goals and different agendas, coming together and working on this reservoir project and to show how successful we can be working together, rather than continuing to be divided,” said Joe Blodgett, Yakama Klickitat Fisheries Project manager

    “The reservoir is going to help more fish survive and have more fish available to the fisherman that are both tribal and non-tribal. It also helps us with all the other listed species and restoration work of the last several decades. This fits into the bigger model of something for everybody, but also something that is going to have a profound impact on our ability to have water to manage for fish and fish migration in the Yakima Basin,” said Phil Rigdon, Yakama Nation Department of Natural Resources Superintendent.

    “This is a role model for the entire nation on how to find common ground and work on behalf of both the environment and the economy. And supporting this project is going to do just that,” said Mike Livingston, Regional Director at Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

    As a voice in the U.S. Senate for Washington state’s Tribal governments and communities, Senator Murray has long worked to make sure our nation lives up to its promises to support Tribal infrastructure, health care, education, housing, natural resources management, and more. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Senator Murray was instrumental in passing as then-Assistant Majority Leader provided more than $13 billion to directly support Tribal communities and made Tribes eligible to apply for or request billions in discretionary, formula, and other funding to deploy record investments to provide affordable high-speed internet, safer roads and bridges, modern wastewater and sanitation systems, clean drinking water, reliable and affordable electricity, and good paying jobs in every Tribal community. In total, this funding represents the single largest investment in Tribal infrastructure ever.

    Senator Murray has also been a champion for protecting and strengthening critical salmon and fish populations throughout her time in the Senate. Senator Murray secured a historic $2.85 billion investment in salmon and ecosystem restoration programs—including $400 million for a new community-based restoration program focused on removing fish passage barriers in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—and in the Inflation Reduction Act, Murray secured hundreds of millions for Washington state priorities including $15 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, $3 million to support facilities at the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, $27 million for Pacific salmon research, and more. Last Congress, as then-Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Murray protected critical funding for salmon recovery and fishery projects in the Fiscal Year 2024 government spending bills she negotiated and passed into law, including securing: $50 million in the construction of the Howard Hanson Dam Fish Passage facility; $75 million for the Pacific Salmon account at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), $65 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, $54 million for the EPA’s Puget Sound Geographic Program, and more.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Tours Wenatchi Landing Site, Discusses Importance of Federal Investment

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***PHOTOS, B-ROLL FROM VISIT HERE***

    Wenatchee, WA — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited the Wenatchi Landing site to hear an update on the project and discuss how federal investment can help support the mixed-use commercial development area. Senator Murray was joined by a number of local leaders and stakeholders including Douglas County Board of Commissioners Chair Marc Straub, Vice Chair Dan Sutton, and Commissioner Randy Agnew; Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority Commissioners Mark Spurgeon, Alan Loebsack, and Jim Huffman; Douglas County Sewer District Commissioners Wayne Barnhardt, Greg Peterson, and Cheryl Sutton; WSDOT Regional Administrator Chris Keifenhiem; CEO of Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority Jim Kunz; Executive Director of Chelan Douglas Transportation Council Jeff Wilkens; and Link Transit CEO Nick Covey.

    During her visit, Senator Murray was briefed on the status of the project at the Douglas County Public Services Building, and then the group headed out to tour the Wentachi Landing site. Wenatchi Landing is a 317-acre mixed-use development area on the east bank of the Columbia River, across the US-2 bridge from Sunnyslope and Wenatchee. The approved Master Site Plan envisions an array of mixed-use development and amenities in the area, including housing, offices, retail spaces, business parks, resort-style hospitality, and wineries—all with access to the region’s popular Apple Capital Loop trail network. Douglas County has applied for an $18 million BUILD (formerly RAISE) grant with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to fund completion of Phase 1 of the project, and Senator Murray recently sent a letter to DOT Secretary Sean Duffy supporting Douglas County’s BUILD grant application. Another potential avenue for the project to secure federal funding is through Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS)—funding Members of Congress can direct to projects in their states and districts to support local communities. CDS funding is part of the annual appropriations bills that Senator Murray helps write and negotiate as Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

    “The Wentachi Landing project means so much to Douglas County—it’s going to bring more jobs, new residents, and tourism to the area with the new development of everything from a regional job center to retail and housing,” said Senator Murray. “So, it was important for me to come here to see the site, learn about the path ahead, and hear what I can do to best support this work at the federal level. I’m already exploring all avenues to help secure the funding this project needs, whether that’s helping to support grant applications or securing funding through Congressionally Directed Spending in our appropriations bills. Federal investment is going to be essential to turning the vision for Wenatchi Landing into a reality, and you can bet I will be doing everything in my power to ensure this project moves forward.”

    Chair Marc Straub said, “On behalf of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, we are grateful to Senator Murray for her steadfast and unwavering support of the Wenatchi Landing project and her ongoing efforts to champion federal investment in our region. Wenatchi Landing represents a transformative opportunity—not just for Douglas County, but for the entire region and Washington State. This project is poised to deliver significant economic growth, attract new businesses and jobs, and enhance transportation safety and connectivity along US-2/97. With Senator Murray’s support and advocacy, we are one step closer to realizing a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive development that will leave a lasting legacy of growth and connection for generations to come.”

    As Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray writes and negotiates the annual appropriations bills—which provide federal funding across government—with her Republican counterparts every year. Washington state benefits tremendously from the BUILD—formerly RAISE—grant program Murray established. In the last round of RAISE grants—for Fiscal Year 2024, awarded in June 2024—Washington state was awarded the most grants of any state and received the most in total funding, nearly $90 million. In January, Murray announced another $56 million in RAISE grants for Washington state. President Trump renamed the RAISE grant program to Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) at the beginning of his term. Washington state’s Democratic Congressional delegation helped secure $7.5 billion for the BUILD program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and have advocated strongly for Washington state’s BUILD grant applicants.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Board of Commissioners

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

     Our Board:

    sets our strategic direction, makes decisions about funding allocations and provides guidance on our operations
    monitors the performance of the Chief Executive and the organisation
    oversees management of strategic risk.

    Dr Alan Bollard CNZM, Chair

    Alan Bollard is Chair of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery. He is New Zealand Governor of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, a Director of China Construction Bank (NZ), and Chair of the New Zealand Pacific Economic Cooperation Council.
    He has been Chair of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Professor of Pacific Region Business at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, and Chair of the Centres for Asia-Pacific Excellence.
    Alan was the Director of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research from 1987 to 1994, Chair of the New Zealand Commerce Commission from 1994 to 1998, and the Secretary to the Treasury between 1998 and 2020. From 2002 to 2012, he was the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. He was the Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Singapore from 2012 to 2018.
    Alan has published a number of economics and popular books. He is a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a Fellow of Royal Society Te Apārangi, and has honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Auckland and Massey University.
    Robin Hapi CNZM, Deputy Chair

    Robin Hapi was a former Commissioner of the Tertiary Education Commission from 2007 to 2013 and joins TEC for a second time from February 2025. This follows a term of 12 years as Amokapua/Chair of Te Wānanga o Raukawa. He has served on several Boards and led a range of commercial and not-for-profit entities.
    Robin is currently Chair of Tū Ātea Ltd and Co-Chair of the Pūhoro STEMM Academy. His previous service includes positions on the Boards of Te Mātāwai, Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities, WorkSafe NZ and the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency; he has also been Chair of the Māori Economic Development Advisory Board, Chair of BERL and Deputy Chair of Callaghan Innovation. 
    Robin is an old boy of Hato Pāora College and an alumni of Massey University, where he graduated with a Master of Business Administration with Distinction. In December 2015 Robin was awarded the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in recognition of his contribution to governance, community and Māori, and in 2022 he received the Dame Mira Szászy Lifetime award from the University of Auckland Business School for his contribution to governance. Robin is also a Distinguished Fellow of the NZ Institute of Directors.
    Robin is of Ngāti Kahungunu descent and affiliates to Kahurānaki Marae, Te Hauke.
    Dr Alastair MacCormick, Commissioner, Chair Whatitata Whakau – Risk and Assurance Committee

    TEC’s longest serving Commissioner, Alastair was first appointed to the TEC Board of Commissioners in May 2017, and appointed as Chair of the Whatitata Whakau – Risk and Assurance Committee in August 2017.
    Alastair is an Emeritus Professor of the University of Auckland. He holds a Doctorate in Management Science from Yale University and an MCom in Economics and a BSc in Mathematics and Physics from Auckland. For a decade he was Dean of Business and Economics at the University of Auckland and subsequently Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).
    Alastair also served over nine years on the Grants Committee of Callaghan Innovation for the Government support of Private Sector R&D and is a professional director with global experience in both public, private and listed companies.
    Alastair’s generosity with his time and expertise is demonstrated in his role as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Elizabeth Knox Home and Hospital (a voluntary role which Alastair has supported for almost 40 years) along with founding the New Zealand Education and Scholarship Trust in 1991. He has also spent 14 years on the Board of Trustees for Auckland Grammar School, serving as Chair of the Board for six years.
    Alastair was awarded a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in The Queen’s Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours for services to tertiary education and the community.
    Kirk Hope, Commissioner

    “People are our greatest asset and the drivers of our economy.  Business needs a training and development system to ensure everyone can reach their potential and New Zealand continues to prosper”. 

    Appointed in November 2019, Kirk brings strong current business sector knowledge to the TEC Board table. Kirk is the Chief Executive of the Financial Services Council. Previously, he was the Chief Executive of BusinessNZ, New Zealand’s largest business advocacy group with approximately 80,000 business connections.
    It is not just his knowledge and understanding of business that Kirk brings to TEC. He has held the positions of CEO of the New Zealand Bankers’ Association, Executive Director of the Financial Services Federation, along with several executive positions in both government and banking industries.
    The pairing of business acumen with a strong financial base, a Master’s in Law, an honours degree in political science, easily makes Kirk a great fit for TEC.
    Kirk’s passion is giving back, so sometime in the future we could see him sharing his wealth of knowledge and business expertise through teaching – perhaps that will be after he finishes PhD in economic history (a long term goal) or when he isn’t surfing.
    Samuelu (Sam) Sefuiva, Commissioner, Chair Ohu Tangata – People and Culture Committee

    Sam has over 30 years’ experience in public policy, strategic and business advice, cultural and economic development and executive leadership. He has a strong professional and personal interest in the Pacific region particularly in human rights, social enterprise and public policy. Sam joined the TEC Board in January 2023.
    Sam has mentored, led and facilitated senior executives in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific in improving international, regional and domestic non-government and community enterprise environments. His strengths are in high level policy advice and relations, strategic thinking, business planning and facilitation.
    Currently his leadership roles include: Mana Whakapai-AMPTI (consortium) Manager, Auckland Māori and Pasifika Trades Training Initiative; Trustee, Digital Wings Trust; and Trustee Black Grace (Dance) Trust. Previously, Sam was Chief Advisor to the Race Relations Commissioner at the NZ Human Rights Commission.
    Sam enjoys spending time with his family and including grandchildren, his wider Samoan fanau and village (Salani, Falealili), as well as some passive recreational activities such as reading, surfing, fishing.
    Deidre Shea, Commissioner

    “Accessible, quality educational opportunities for all New Zealanders throughout their lives are key to the health and success of our communities and our nation. I am privileged to be able to contribute to this as a member of TEC’s board.”

    Commissioned in 2023, Deidre received her Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday honours for services to Education.
    Deidre held leadership roles with Ōnehunga High School (OHS) from 1995 and was Principal from 2007 until 2022. Her leadership extended to the Auckland Secondary School Principals’ Association from 2008 to 2015 and the Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand (SPANZ) 2014 to 2023. She became President of SPANZ from 2019 to 2021, leading through numerous challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Deidre is committed to excellent, lifelong educational opportunities for all. She has overseen the establishment of a Construction School at OHS in 2005, followed by a Services Academy in 2007 and later a Health Science Academy. OHS operates the nation’s largest school-based Adult and Community Education programme.
    Deidre has chaired Te Hikoi (formerly the AIMHI Alternative Education consortium) for the past decade. 
    Bharat Guha, Commissioner

    Bharat Guha is the current Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Invercargill Licensing Trust. He is a chartered accountant with extensive experience in the education and hospitality sector.
    Bharat has held numerous senior positions as CEO, Deputy CEO and CFO in different New Zealand and overseas organisations. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Bharat was based in London, working as the Group CFO for an LSE-listed company with branches in the UK, Malaysia, Singapore and Nepal.
    Bharat was recognised as a Fellow of the Australia New Zealand Chartered Accountants for his financial work on the Zero Fee Scheme for the Southern Institute of Technology. In addition, he has developed and led successful government–private tertiary institution partnerships for attracting international students to New Zealand.
    Bharat is a graduate of the University of Otago, undertaking a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Information Systems) and a Master in Business Administration. He also completed the Executive Leadership Programme at Oxford University and the Southland Leadership Academy.
    Bharat is committed and passionate about ensuring the future growth of tertiary education in New Zealand.
    Sharon McGuire, Commissioner

    Sharon McGuire has a strong commercial background and knowledge of the polytechnic and broader tertiary sector. She also has governance experience with several entities. Her tertiary experience includes being a director for regional economic development with the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.
    Sharon’s commercial experience includes working as a general manager in the hotels sector, as a director of a major sports franchise, work with Chambers of Commerce, and as a business owner specialising in project services and advising on business viability.
    Sharon has held senior executive roles and is an experienced Director in the Not-for-Loss sector. Sharon is a great supporter of community organisations, and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow for services to Rotary and the wider community.
     Top

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Praises Passage of Bill to Shrink Government

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen Praises Passage of Bill to Shrink Government

    LINCOLN, NE — Governor Jim Pillen released the following statement praising the Legislature for its unanimous passage of LB 346, which will shrink government by rightsizing or eliminating duplicative boards and commissions. The proposal was introduced on the Governor’s behalf by Speaker of the Legislature John Arch.

    “We must shrink government. There’s more work to do, but LB346 is a great start. By eliminating or combining nearly 40 boards and commissions, we’re cleaning out the closets and making state government more efficient and more accountable to Nebraskans.”

    In some cases, state agencies have assumed the duties carried out by the entities. In other situations, the efforts across those entities have become duplicative.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen’s Bill to Protect Kids Online Passes

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen’s Bill to Protect Kids Online Passes

    LINCOLN, NE — Governor Jim Pillen, a leading advocate for Nebraska families and kids, praised the Legislature for its final passage of  LB504, the Age-Appropriate Online Design Code Act. The bill was presented on the Governor’s behalf by Senator Carolyn Bosn.

    “This bill fights back against far-left tech giants who are trying to get our kids addicted to their apps. By limiting the grip social media has on children, we’re giving parents a chance to fight back. I thank Senator Bosn for partnering with me and leading this effort on the floor. I’m proud to sign this legislation into law for Nebraska families.”

    This legislation was introduced as part of a package of bills that prioritized protecting Nebraska’s children from harm resulting from big tech, social media and overuse of smartphones.  LB504 will protect user data, give parents the ability to manage and control privacy and account settings and limits the ability of tech companies to target children by encouraging excessive use.

    The bill is set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2026.

    MIL OSI USA News –