Taxpayers may be eligible for tax offsets depending on their individual circumstances. Tax offsets reduce the amount of tax people need to pay.
We’ve recently updated the remote zone tax offset web content to make it easier for you and your clients to understand the eligibility requirements.
Determining eligibility
Taxpayers are generally eligible for the remote zone tax offset when they have resided in a relevant area of Australia for more than 183 days during the financial year in which they are claiming the offset. That is, when their usual place of residence is within a remote zone.
The 183 days does not have to be a continuous period of residency but must be within one financial year unless certain circumstances apply.
Where your client hasn’t resided within a remote zone for 183 days during the income year, they may still be able to claim the offset if their usual place of residence was in a remote zone for a continuous period of less than 5 years, and:
they were unable to claim in the first year because it was not their residence for 183 days or more
the total of the days they resided there in the first year and the current income year is 183 days or more
the period they resided in a zone in the current income year includes the first day of the income year.
Fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) and offshore oil or gas rig workers are generally not eligible to claim the zone tax offset, unless their usual place of residence is within a remote zone for the required number of days.
Temporarily working in a zone, staying at an employer’s camp or provided accommodation does not mean the worker resided in the zone where the worker’s usual place of residence is outside a zone.
Australian zone list
We have a non-exhaustive list of locations that are within a remote zone. There may be other eligible locations that are not included on the list but are geographically within a remote zone.
If your client resides at a location that is geographically within a remote zone, it does not need to be on the list in order to claim the offset.
Claiming the offset – address details
Before lodging your client’s income tax return, confirm if there have been any changes to their residential and postal addresses. It’s important to ensure your clients keep their ATO record up to date with their current phone number, postal, residential and email address details.
The Secretary-General welcomes the signature of the Declaration of Principles between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/ Mouvement du 23 Mars (AFC/M23) in Doha. He commends this important step, which opens a pathway toward lasting peace, security, and the return of displaced persons and refugees.
The Secretary-General urges all parties to ensure the swift implementation of the commitments undertaken and expresses his appreciation to the State of Qatar for its facilitation of this process.
The United Nations remains committed to supporting efforts toward peace, protection of civilians, and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in close collaboration with national authorities, regional and international partners.
*****
Déclaration attribuable au Porte‑parole du Secrétaire général – sur la Déclaration de Principes entre la République démocratique du Congo et l’AFC/M23
Le Secrétaire général se félicite de la signature de la Déclaration de principes entre le Gouvernement de la République démocratique du Congo et l’Alliance Fleuve Congo/Mouvement du 23 Mars (AFC/M23) à Doha. Il salue cette étape importante qui ouvre la voie à une paix durable, à la sécurité et au retour des personnes déplacées et des réfugiés.
Le Secrétaire général exhorte toutes les parties à assurer la mise en œuvre rapide des engagements pris, et exprime sa gratitude à l’État du Qatar pour avoir facilité ce processus.
Les Nations unies restent déterminées à soutenir les efforts en faveur de la paix, de la protection des civils et de la stabilité en République démocratique du Congo, en étroite collaboration avec les autorités nationales et les partenaires régionaux et internationaux.
On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 successfully landed the first crewed mission on the Moon, launching mankind into a new and uncharted era of human ingenuity. As the entire world watched in awe, American astronauts stepped onto the lunar surface and planted the beautiful Stars and Stripes on the rocky soil. Our flag stood as a marker of National achievement, signaling to the entire world the unmatched might and unwavering resilience of the American spirit.
Today, my Administration is building on the legacy of Apollo 11 by reigniting the United States’ leadership in space and shaping the future of American space exploration. During my first term, I proudly reestablished the National Space Council and created the Space Force, making space policy a national priority and ensuring that our Nation’s interests are protected beyond Earth.
Through the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, we secured a historic investment in human space exploration to ensure that America’s efforts in the realm of space remain innovative, efficient, and unmatched by other nations. We are refocusing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Artemis campaign returning Americans to the Moon—this time to stay—and putting the first boots on Mars. At the same time, we are expanding partnerships with the greatest aerospace companies in the world to launch rockets, build landers, and deliver advanced technology that will drive a new and unparalleled era of space exploration.
With our incredible Guardians in the U.S. Space Force protecting America’s interests in space, we are securing the systems that power exploration, defense, and communication. We are building strength, expanding freedom, and ensuring that the American flag remains the ultimate symbol of leadership across the final frontier.
Women representing the more than 300,000 workers in female-dominated industries affected by the Government’s gutting of New Zealand’s pay equity system will deliver a 80,000 strong petition to opposition MPs at Parliament this Wednesday.
Workers will make the case to MPs that the changes have impacted on not just them but also on the essential work they do to support education, health, families and communities.
“The gutting of pay equity claims have reversed decades of progress to correct pay rates for women, but we are heartened that tens of thousands of New Zealanders are supporting us,” said secondary school teacher and PPTA delegate Clare Preston.
“This was a huge slap in the face for women and has a massive impact on the families and communities we care for, but we will continue to rise up,” said care and support worker and E tū delegate Jo-Chanelle Pouwhare.
“The Government has made it virtually impossible for people in female-dominated industries to be paid fairly, but this petition shows that women will not be deterred in our fight to achieve pay equity for all,” said PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.
Sellers are getting, on average, more than their final asking price for properties listed on realestate.co.nz
8 out of 19 regions recorded higher average selling price than asking price
Wellington homeowners getting on average $17,000 more for homes than they were expecting.
An analysis of house price data on realestate.co.nz reveals that at a national level, on average, sellers are getting more for their properties than they asked for.
The analysis, which compared the asking and selling prices of more than 53,000 residential homes listed and sold on realestate.co.nz between 1 January 2024 and 31 May 2025, showed that by the time a home sold, people were getting more than their final asking price.
During this period, New Zealand homeowners asked for an average of $894,915 for their properties but achieved an average selling price of $898,845, putting an extra $3,930 in their pockets.
The two price types were compared in the month that the property was officially sold, using sales data provided by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ).
Vanessa Williams, spokesperson for realestate.co.nz, says sellers are meeting the market and exceeding their own expectations.
“The last 18 months have been tough for sellers, but we are seeing that by the time their home sells, vendors are getting realistic with their price expectations. This seems to be having a surprisingly positive outcome, as they are ending up with slightly more than they bargained for.”
Whether vendors were up or down with their pricing expectations varied greatly around the country. Eight of realestate.co.nz’s 19 regions recorded a higher average selling price than asking price, while the remaining 11 asked, on average, for more than the average selling price.
Wellington sellers take the win
Sellers in Wellington had the biggest positive variance between asking and selling prices, with vendors getting, on average, $17,185 more for their homes than what they asked for.
The average asking price over this period in the region was $901,484, while the average selling price was $918,668.
Canterbury followed suit with an average asking price of $745,995, and a selling price of $759,715 – an average of $13,721 more in the hand for vendors.
Gisborne also recorded a bigger-than-average gain between asking and selling, from $692,420 to $704,256, an average upside of $11,835.
Coromandel buyers not budging
Meanwhile, Coromandel stood out as the region where vendors received notably less than their expectations, with an average asking price of $1,116,914 compared to an average selling price of $1,071,241 – a gap of $45,673.”
Other regions with the greatest disparity between asking and selling prices were Northland (-$14,117) and Waikato (-$8,399).
“While we always want to see a deal taking place, the property market only functions when buyers and sellers are prepared to negotiate and make sacrifices,” says Williams.
“With more properties on the market and prices holding steady, successful transactions often come down to pricing that both parties can agree upon and open negotiation.”
We’ve been helping people buy, sell, or rent property since 1996.
Established before Google, realestate.co.nz is New Zealand’s longest-standing property website and the official website of the real estate industry.
Dedicated only to property, our mission is to empower people with a property search tool they can use to find the life they want to live. With residential, lifestyle, rural and commercial property listings, realestate.co.nz is the place to start for those looking to buy or sell property.
Whatever life you’re searching for, it all starts here.
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Market insights: Search by suburb to see median sale prices, popular property types and tr
Northlanders keen to vote in this year’s local elections – including a poll to keep or remove Māori constituency seats – must be enrolled by Friday 01 August to receive a standard voting pack. After this date, you’ll need to cast a special vote.
Meanwhile people keen to stand for council also have until Friday 01 August get their nominations in. Anyone aged 18 and over can stand for election provided they’re a New Zealand citizen, enrolled on the Parliamentary electoral roll and are nominated by two electors whose names appear on the electoral roll within the constituency the candidate is standing for.
Last chance for feedback on Navigation Safety Bylaw
Northlanders are being urged to have their say on Northland Regional Council’s Navigation Safety Bylaw, which sets the rules for keeping people safe on the water, by Monday 28 July.
After a first feedback period during May, this second opportunity provides more detail on the key proposals. The proposals include a new requirement to carry two forms of communication on a vessel; amending the requirements for wearing a lifejacket; and removing a clause prohibiting wind-powered board sports in the Ruakākā and Waipū estuaries.
Work begins soon on a major flood resilience project – Hakanui Straight (formerly Nesbitt’s Dip) – on State Highway 2 near Te Karaka.
The upgrade will see an 850 metres long flood-prone section of the highway raised by 3 metres, new drainage installed, the main culvert for Hakanui Stream replaced and safety barriers installed.
The work is being delivered by Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) and local contractor crews, and is one of two projects which have been added to the recovery programme funded by savings found from other projects. The second project will involve flood resilience on SH35 at Rototahe.
TREC project manager Richard Bayley says the work will keep communities connected and freight moving and ensure a stronger, safer and more reliable route.
Mr Bayley says in the past this stretch of road had to close during heavy weather events because the area is prone to flooding.
“These closures create disruption for communities and the flow of freight, as well as causing safety risks for emergency services.
“To reduce the risk of future flooding, we’re raising the highway and upgrading drainage, making it stronger, safer, and more reliable for everyday travel and emergency response.
“The Hakanui Straight project spans a vital link for freight between the Bay of Plenty and the East Coast, and ensuring its resilience is essential for businesses, residents, and regional connectivity,” says Mr Bayley.
The improvements being made are particularly significant for Te Karaka residents, who faced severe flooding during Cyclone Gabrielle when water breached the stopbanks of the Waipaoa River. In the early hours of 14 February 2023, around 500 residents evacuated to surrounding hills, watching as the floodwaters overtook their homes, workplaces, and marae.
Kaitiaki of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Pimia Wehi, says working with TREC throughout the design process has been crucial in ensuring the upgrade meets the community’s needs.
“This is a huge step forward for Te Karaka, Puha, and Whatatutu. The devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle is still fresh in our minds as families lost their homes, businesses were destroyed, and many of us were stranded without communication for more than a day,” says Pimia Wehi.
“Seeing this work begin is a relief. It means our people will have better access to emergency routes and won’t have to face being completely cut off again.”
Mr Bayley says early enabling work, such as the site office establishment, fencing and services relocation, is expected to begin this week, weather permitting.
“Road users aren’t likely to notice too much activity until the physical work begins, which is expected next month.
“At that stage, short traffic delays are expected while crews carry out the upgrades. Traffic will be managed by closing the road shoulder during early works, followed by one lane closures with stop/go to maintain two-way traffic during major works with reduced speed limits along the work site.
“Please drive to the conditions and be aware of the increased truck movements and trucks crossing the road.”
About the name Hakanui Straight
The project name is ‘Hakanui Straight’ but was formerly Nesbitt’s Dip. This is a change requested by hapū and Iwi representatives as the name reflects the area’s cultural and historical significance. The Hakanui Stream was important for local food gathering, mahinga kai, and as a travel route for waka.
With the road being elevated to ensure safer and quicker evacuations during floods, ‘Straight’ (rather than ‘Dip’), embodies strength, directness, and a clear path forward.
What’s changing at Hakanui Straight?
An 850-metre section of SH2 will be raised by approximately three metres to reduce flood risks and keep the road open in severe weather.
The Hakanui Stream culvert will be upgraded with a larger, 1.8-metre-diameter structure to handle higher water volumes, prevent highway flooding and allow safe fish passage to protect local aquatic life.
Invercargill’s Clifton industrial area will get a new, safer and more efficient access point from next week.
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advises the new access off the Elles Road roundabout, across the recently upgraded KiwiRail level crossing, will be available from Monday 28 July. It will be the key route to the Invercargill City Council (ICC) Pound, ICC Wastewater Treatment Plant and Freight Haulage.
“The existing access via Lake Street, about 300 metres south of the Elles Road roundabout will be closed,” says Jason Forbes, Senior Project Manager for NZTA in Southland.
The additional access takes the Elles Road roundabout to four legs (as seen in the aerial map below).
Mr Forbes says there will be signs advising of the closure of Lake St ahead of 28 July and people should find the new, wider route preferable to Lake St.
“Lake St is attracting increasing numbers of large trucks and with further developments in this area now underway, this traffic growth means this intersection is no longer fit for purpose,” Mr Forbes says.
“The new access off the Elles Road roundabout will have new bells and barrier arms to protect road users at the rail line, there will also be a separated cycle path adjacent to the new road which will have automatic gates at the rail crossing to protect cyclists and pedestrians.”
BOSTON – The ICE Boston arrest of an illegal Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lawrence resulted in his conviction for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Santo Beato Aybar-Aybar, 49, pleaded guilty to the charge June 16 at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
“Santo Beato Aybar-Aybar repeatedly displayed a blatant disregard for U.S. immigration laws, and that resulted in his conviction for illegally reentering the country after deportation,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “We will not stand idly by as criminals subvert our immigration laws and take refuge in our neighborhoods. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders from our New England communities.”
Aybar-Aybar has been previously deported from the U.S. on three separate occasions, most recently on Sept. 21, 2021. Sometime after his 2021 removal, Aybar-Aybar illegally reentered the U.S. without being inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. immigration official.
Aybar-Aybar faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 at his sentencing, which is scheduled for Sept. 11. Furthermore, he is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts is prosecuting this case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X at @EROBoston and @HSINewEngland.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Note: The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports. SEL2
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 532 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 420 PM MDT Sun Jul 20 2025
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of North Central Nebraska South Central South Dakota
* Effective this Sunday afternoon and evening from 420 PM until 1000 PM MDT.
* Primary threats include… A couple tornadoes possible Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5 inches in diameter likely Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
SUMMARY…Isolated supercell thunderstorms are forming in a very unstable airmass. Very large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes are possible with these storms through the evening.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 50 statute miles east and west of a line from 85 miles north of Valentine NE to 55 miles south southwest of Valentine NE. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 530…WW 531…
AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector 27025.
…Hart
SEL2
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 532 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 420 PM MDT Sun Jul 20 2025
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a
* Tornado Watch for portions of North Central Nebraska South Central South Dakota
* Effective this Sunday afternoon and evening from 420 PM until 1000 PM MDT.
* Primary threats include… A couple tornadoes possible Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5 inches in diameter likely Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
SUMMARY…Isolated supercell thunderstorms are forming in a very unstable airmass. Very large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes are possible with these storms through the evening.
The tornado watch area is approximately along and 50 statute miles east and west of a line from 85 miles north of Valentine NE to 55 miles south southwest of Valentine NE. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU2).
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings.
&&
OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 530…WW 531…
AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 2.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector 27025.
…Hart
Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas. SAW2 WW 532 TORNADO NE SD 202220Z – 210400Z AXIS..50 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE.. 85N VTN/VALENTINE NE/ – 55SSW VTN/VALENTINE NE/ ..AVIATION COORDS.. 45NM E/W /25SW PIR – 51WSW ANW/ HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..2.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS. MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 27025.
LAT…LON 44089954 42119999 42110194 44080156
THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS FOR WOU2.
Watch 532 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.
Note: Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes
Probability of 2 or more tornadoes
Mod (40%)
Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes
Low (20%)
Wind
Probability of 10 or more severe wind events
Mod (50%)
Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots
Low (20%)
Hail
Probability of 10 or more severe hail events
Mod (60%)
Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches
Mod (60%)
Combined Severe Hail/Wind
Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events
High (90%)
For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.
Six teenagers have been arrested after a pursuit through metropolitan Adelaide and the arson of an Aldinga Beach house this morning.
About 12.50 am Monday 21 July Police and emergency services were called to a house at Pebble Court after reports of fire in the garage and house. Fortunately the occupants were not home at the time. MFS were quickly on scene and extinguished the blaze.
When police arrived, they saw a Subaru station wagon leaving the street. Police recognised the car as a stolen vehicle which had been stolen from a Mitchell Park home last week. Police attempted to stop the car, with the driver refusing to pull over.
The car was pursued by patrols along with the assistance from PolAir and Dog Operations Unit on South Road, along the Southern Expressway, through to the eastern suburbs before making its way to Two Wells where the tyres were successfully spiked by patrols at Port Wakefield Road and Mallala Road.
Six youths ran from the car and were arrested on Artisan Road with the assistance of PD Duke without incident.
The driver, a 17-year-old boy from Ottoway has been arrested for arson, illegal use, dangerous driving to escape pursuit
Four 15-year-old boys have been arrested for arson and illegal use.
One 16-year-old boy has been arrested for arson and illegal use.
All six will appear in the Youth Court later today.
President Trump and Secretary Noem stand with the victims of illegal alien crime
WASHINGTON — On July 19, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers inChicago arrested Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, a 52-year-old criminal illegal alien from Mexico, who was charged in April with concealing the body of a missing woman in a storage container on his yard for two months, abusing her corpse, and obstruction of justice.
Waukegan Police Department officers discovered the body of 37-year-old victim Megan Bos in a container in Mendoza’s yard in April after she had been reported missing on March 9, 2025.
Her body was found decapitated and in a bleach storage container by officers. Mendoza was charged in April. However,Lake County Judge Randie Bruno released him from custody at the conclusion of his court appearance, where he was immediately allowed to freely roam the Chicago streets.
This criminal illegal alien is currently being held at Lake County Jail in Waukegan, Illinois.
“Everyday ICE is arresting sickos like criminal illegal alien, Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, and stopping them from terrorizing Americans. This depraved alien was charged with concealing the body of a missing woman in a storage container for months and abusing her corpse,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “It is absolutely repulsive that a judge freed this monster and allowed him to walk free on Illinois’s streets after allegedly committing such a heinous crime. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, Megan Bos and her family will have justice.”
Secretary Noem relaunched the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office. The VOICE office was shuttered by the previous administration, which left victims of alien crime without access to many key support services and resources. The office was first launched in 2017 by the Trump administration as a dedicated resource for those who have been victimized by crime that has a nexus to immigration.
If you or a loved one has been impacted by a crime committed by an illegal alien, you are not alone. Call 1-855-48-VOICE (1-855-488-6423).
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Fundamental lethality shift for British Army spearheaded by novel targeting tech ‘ASGARD’
British Army showcase new technology that improves the accuracy of targeting enemies and reduces decision-making time for strikes.
A pioneering digital targeting web, called ASGARD, has been showcased this week, following successful trials by British soldiers deployed on NATO’s eastern flank. The project will enable soldiers to rapidly find and strike enemy targets at greater distances than ever before.
Following the Strategic Defence Review, the Army will deliver a tenfold increase in lethality over the next ten years by harnessing firepower, surveillance technology, autonomy, digital connectivity, and data – leading the way in NATO in its use of technology to change how it fights, improving speed and accuracy. ASGARD will exploit AI and novel communications networks, providing rapid targeting and decision-support to personnel.
The Ministry of Defence is committing funding for the next phase of ASGARD’s development. This will allow the Army to expedite its lethality and deepen its links with society through partnership with British industry, delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change by keeping the UK secure at home and strong abroad.
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP said:
We are learning the lessons from Ukraine so our frontline personnel can strike further and faster and maintain advantage over our adversaries.
ASGARD exemplifies the vision of the Strategic Defence Review, with speed and world-class capability achieved by bringing together military, Government and industry professionals with a focus on rapid frontline delivery.
ASGARD forms part of the work to create a wider digital targeting web across the UK’s Armed Forces by 2027, backed by more than £1 billion in funding. It will better connect military weapons systems and allow battlefield decisions for targeting enemy threats to be made and executed faster.
ASGARD was showcased this week to international allies and industry partners in London, with participants shown the capability in action, including its overwhelming effect on adversaries.
Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Roly Walker said:
Project ASGARD proves we can do things differently. It’s not just a pathfinder for transformation; it’s a transformation in how we find, fund, and fight with cutting-edge capabilities.
ASGARD helps double our lethality and exponentially reduces the time to see, decide, and strike. What took hours, now takes minutes. Today, the UK possesses a similar Recce-Strike system to the one used by Ukraine to maul Russian forces in the Donbas. That system now sits at the heart of our Forward Land Forces in Estonia.
We are particularly proud of the collaboration between tacticians and technicians, between Defence and Industry, and the support of and to small and medium enterprises and jobs across the UK.
Using a novel acquisition approach, ASGARD was first announced by the Defence Secretary in October 2024 and progressed at an unprecedented pace, with contracts awarded in January 2025 and a prototype capability deployed only four months later for NATO Exercise Hedgehog in Estonia. ASGARD’s capabilities were successfully tested, increasing the UK and NATO Armies’ lethality by improving targeting precision and significantly cutting decision-making time.
This quick turn-around was achieved through a collaboration between industry technicians and military tradecraft experts, bringing together a consortium of military, civil service and industry partners to deliver the best possible product in the shortest amount of time.
The Strategic Defence Review recommended a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence within the UK’s conventional forces, facilitated by a Digital Targeting Web. The next phase of ASGARD will deliver on this, focusing on enhancing the lethality at the Corps and Divisional levels as the Army’s contribution to the Defence Targeting Web. It will exploit the Digital Decision Accelerators from the Defence Commercial framework to harness the talents across a broader array of industry partners to improve core capability.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, July 20 (Xinhua) — The 4th International Pop Music Festival “Making Asia” opened at the hippodrome in Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan on Sunday.
Talented artists from more than 20 countries of Asia and Europe came to the event. Among them were performers from Kazakhstan, Turkey, Russia, as well as the best representatives of the Kyrgyz stage.
As reported, the festival guests will have a rich program, which includes performances and cultural exchanges. The event is aimed at promoting the international image of Kyrgyzstan, its integration into the global tourism and humanitarian space.
The festival will run until July 22. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
TEHRAN, July 20 (Xinhua) — Iran and three European countries — France, Germany and Britain, known as the E3 group — have agreed to resume talks on Tehran’s nuclear program, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Sunday.
As the agency reports, citing an anonymous “informed source,” Iran and the E3 are holding consultations on the date and place of the talks.
The upcoming talks are expected to take place at the level of deputy foreign ministers.
Since September 2024, Iran and the E3 have held several rounds of talks on Iran’s nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions against it.
In recent months, three European countries have threatened Tehran with triggering the snapback mechanism under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed in 2015 between Iran and world powers. The mechanism allows other parties to restore all international sanctions if Iran fails to comply with the agreement.
Tehran has repeatedly warned that it will respond decisively to the E3’s actions if this mechanism is launched. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) — The 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) concluded Sunday in Beijing. As announced at the closing press conference, this year’s expo attracted 1,200 enterprises and organizations from China and abroad, establishing business relationships with 42,000 enterprises from upstream and downstream supply chains. According to partial data, more than 6,000 cooperation agreements or cooperation intent agreements were signed on the spot.
Li Xingqian, deputy head of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), said that politicians from many countries, more than 40 heads of Fortune Global 500 multinational companies, and high-ranking representatives of international organizations came specifically to the exhibition. The number of foreign delegations reached 172, which is 2.2 times more than the previous CISCE. The total number of online and offline visitors was more than 210,000, exceeding the previous figure by 5%. The exhibition hosted 70 different forums and events.
According to data from three CISCEs, the proportion of overseas participants has been growing each time and was 26%, 32% and 35%, respectively, at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd CISCEs. At the same time, more than 65% of overseas exhibitors are Fortune Global 500 companies and leading industry enterprises. The geography of participants has expanded from 55 countries and regions at the first exhibition to 75 at the current one. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
There is also broad agreement among early childhood educators and policymakers about the importance of play from birth to five years.
But once children start school, there is less certainty. Despite growing research about the importance of play in primary school, play is not often used for learning in these years.
Our new study with Australian primary teachers highlights significant confusion about the role of play in their schools.
Play can benefit older kids
There is nothing to suggest the importance of play suddenly stops when children reach school age.
Research shows play can support learning well into the primary years, helping students develop critical thinking, problem-solving and social skills.
Recent studies even show play has learning benefits well beyond childhood. Young adults (aged 19–25) who engage in regular play have shown improved emotional intelligence and resilience.
What do we mean by play?
When we are talking about play in primary school, it is more than just playground time during recess and lunch.
For example, children might explore mathematical concepts such as geometry and spatial reasoning through LEGO construction. Teachers would guide discovery of patterns, measurements and problem-solving, and then step back to allow students to be creative.
There is also evidence play can support literacy, numeracy and other academic goals, because it supports attention, memory and planning skills that underpin academic learning.
Research shows it can also help maintain students’ enjoyment of and engagement in their studies.
So when used effectively, it could be used across the school curriculum.
Our research
To better understand what teachers think about play and why they hold these views, we surveyed 238 teachers across Australia primary schools. Teachers ranged from those teaching the first year of primary school through to Year 6.
Most of the teachers were from public schools. We used an online questionnaire and recruited participants through email and social media.
Teachers’ different views on play
The results revealed some inconsistencies in teachers’ views.
Teachers strongly agreed play benefits children’s development. More than three-quarters (77%) strongly agreed students develop social skills through play, with similar numbers supporting play’s role in emotional, physical and language development.
One teacher described play as “magic” and “where real learning happens”.
However, only 52% strongly agreed students develop academic skills during play, revealing uncertainty about play’s educational value. As another teacher told us:
Play is something that children do and it’s fun for them, however, [it] should be out of school. School is for learning.
Some teachers still viewed play as separate from learning, with 61% agreeing that “play is a necessary break from learning” – suggesting they see play and learning as distinct entities rather than integrated.
Adding to this confusion, teachers often used the terms “play” and “play-based learning” interchangeably, despite these being different concepts.
How should play-based learning be structured?
Even when teachers valued play in principle, they struggled to provide time for it in their classrooms. Teachers reported feeling caught between covering mandated content and providing meaningful play experiences. As one teacher told us:
Play is fantastic for children but a challenge when there is so much limited time to cover such a huge curriculum.
Teachers were also divided about their role in children’s play. Should they structure it? Leave kids alone? Supervise but not interfere?
Our analysis revealed several distinct approaches, from hands-off supervision to active involvement. This reveals confusion about best practice (the research suggests different approaches can work, depending on the context).
What can we do instead?
Our research suggest there is missed opportunity when it comes to structuring play as part of learning in primary schools.
To address this, we need several changes. Teacher education programs should include training in practical ways to use play as a teaching tool. For example, how to teach science concepts through games and experiments that feel like play to children.
Professional development should also help existing teachers understand how to structure meaningful play that supports the curriculum.
At a policy level, we also need better alignment between the early education and primary years, to ensure play does not disappear at the school gate.
Katy Meeuwissen 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.
Think back to a time you helped someone move a heavy object, such as a couch. While at first the task may have appeared simple, it actually required a suite of advanced behaviours.
The job needed verbal commands for social coordination (“pivot!”) and anticipation of near-future events (moving other furniture out of the way). It also required a clear, shared vision of the final goal (which room to take the couch to).
It’s a small but satisfying example of human cooperation. But before we all get too pleased with ourselves, consider that ants – creatures with tiny brains and no capacity for speech – routinely pull off feats that rival, and sometimes exceed, our own.
Ants routinely pull off feats that rival, and sometimes exceed, our own. Andre Moura/Pexels
Understanding ant intelligence
Earth is literally crawling with ants. Scientists estimate there are at least 20 quadrillion ants on Earth. That’s 20 followed by 15 zeros – more ants than stars in our galaxy!
These incredible insects are amongst the most successful organisms on the planet. Part of the success comes from an ability to form complex societies, ranging from a few individuals to millions. And those societies, or colonies, are remarkably co-operative.
Take, for example, ants’ abilities to move large food items. To do it, they mobilise teams of dozens – or even hundreds – of fellow workers. Together, they efficiently work together to transport the load back to the nest.
Longhorn crazy ants (Paratrechina longicornis) are even known to clear debris from a path before a heavy object arrives – seemingly anticipating its trajectory and preparing the way.
One experiment pit longhorn crazy ants against humans, all tasked with moving T-shaped objects (scaled to body size) through tight spaces. In some trials, the human teams were not permitted to speak or use gestures.
And the result? Ants performed better in larger groups compared to smaller ones, showing the clear benefits of collective action. In contrast, human performance did not improve with group size. And when communication was restricted, human performance declined as group size increased.
All this highlights how ants rely on collective intelligence, without the need for central control or sophisticated cognition.
Expert farmers
Humanity’s invention of agriculture 12,000 years ago is understandably hailed as one of our greatest achievements.
But leaf cutter ants beat us to it. These ants (from the species Atta and Acromyrmex) evolved to undertake large-scale agriculture about 55 million years ago.
These ants cut and transport fresh leaves not to eat directly, but to feed a fungus that serves as their main food source.
This evolutionary partnership allows the ants to feed colonies with populations in the millions.
Remarkably, leaf cutter ants have also evolved a form of biological pest control to protect their crops from bacteria. Some worker ants patrol the gardens, detecting infected sections of the fungus. Then they apply antibiotics produced by bacteria that live on their bodies.
As these farmed insects feed on plant sap, they excrete a sugary liquid the ants eagerly collect. In return, ants serve as bodyguards, defending their tiny livestock from predators such as ladybirds and lacewings.
In some species, queen ants gently carry sap-sucking insects in their jaws as they fly off to start new colonies. Fossilised ants preserved in amber suggest this behaviour evolved up to 20 million years ago, long before humans domesticated animals.
Ant medicine
Medical care may seem like a distinctly human innovation. But several ant species have evolved sophisticated ways to treat injuries.
When a Florida carpenter ant (Camponotus floridanus) is injured during a battle between colonies, its nest-mates will amputate a damaged limb to prevent infection from spreading. Ants receiving this battlefield care are more likely to survive than ants left untreated.
Army ants (Eciton burchellii) join their bodies together to form structures. These include bridges across gaps on the forest floor, and “scaffolds” across steep terrain to prevent other ants from slipping.
Even the nest is made of hundreds of thousands of ants joined together, complete with tunnels and chambers housing the larvae and the queen. The entire structure is packed up and rebuilt each day, after the colony emigrates a few hundred metres into the forest.
They also form a line of workers that pull leaves together in treetops to form nests. Once the leaves are winched into place, other ants arrive with ant larvae in their jaws. Each larva produces a tiny blob of silk which the ants use to glue the leaves together.
Fire ants (Solenopsis invicta), a major pest species, owes its invasive success partly to a unique method of dispersal.
When their underground nests are flooded by rain, the ants join together into a huge raft which floats on a layer of buoyant larvae. These rafts can ride floodwaters in safety for hundreds of kilometres, until the ants reach dry land.
When their nests are flooded, fire ants join together into a huge raft. TheCoz/Wikimedia, CC BY
Lessons for humanity?
Humans rightly take pride in our greatest achievements – agriculture, medicine, engineering and building civilisations. But remarkably, ants mastered these innovations millions of years before we did.
Ants may be tiny – but by working together they can build complex societies and solve many problems. They might even teach humans a thing or two.
Tanya Latty co-founded and volunteers for conservation organisation Invertebrates Australia, is former president of the Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour and is on the education committee for the Australian Entomological Society. She receives funding from the Australian Research Council, NSW Saving our Species, and Agrifutures Australia
Chris R. Reid receives funding from the Australian Research Council and Macquarie University. He is secretary of the Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour and is on the education committee for the Australasian Entomological Society.
Spinal cord stimulators are electrical devices that are surgically implanted in the body to treat long-term pain. They have a battery pack and leads that deliver electrical impulses directly to the spinal cord. The devices are thought to work by providing electrical impulses that interfere with how the brain senses pain.
Spinal cord stimulators are mainly used to treat chronic back pain, especially when other less invasive treatments have not worked. They also aim to reduce people’s reliance on risky pain medicines. These include opioids, which research shows are ineffective and harmful for low-back pain.
But research, including our own, shows spinal cord stimulators work no better than a placebo. And they can also carry risks.
Do they work?
In a 2023 Cochrane review, researchers reviewed data from 13 randomised controlled trials on low-back pain and found no benefits in the short and medium term. These international reviews draw together the most robust evidence to provide a detailed summary of what we know on a particular topic.
Only one of the trials in the review tested efficacy in the longer term (six months). That trial found no benefits of spinal cord stimulation.
An earlier Cochrane review looked at the evidence of spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain in general, including for neck pain. Reviewers looked at 15 randomised controlled trials and couldn’t be certain about its benefits, largely due to the quality and reliability of the available trials.
Are there side effects?
Aside from disappointing results for pain relief, there are risks and side effects to consider.
We co-authored an analysis of 520 adverse events reported to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). We found 79% of reported events were rated as severe, with 13% life-threatening. The same research found 80% of events required surgery to correct.
Our recent analysis in the Medical Journal of Australia looked at data from private health insurers. These cover 90% of spinal cord stimulation implants in Australia. Five major insurers, which covered 76% of privately insured people, contributed de-identified data.
We found about one-quarter of people who had a spinal cord stimulator implanted needed corrective surgery afterwards. These surgeries occurred within a median of about 17 months. This indicates these surgeries are not routine or expected interventions, such as to replace batteries, which are meant to last five to ten years.
Our previous research shows the sorts of reasons for corrective surgery. These include to replace a malfunctioning device, or the person was in more pain, had an infection, or a puncture of the delicate tissues covering the spinal cord.
However, even our latest findings are likely to underestimate the risk of these devices.
Sometimes the lead delivering the electrical current moves away from the spinal cord to elsewhere in the body. This requires surgery to reposition the lead, but does not necessarily require new hardware, such as a brand new lead. So this type of corrective surgery is not counted in the data from the private health insurance companies.
How much does it cost?
We found spinal cord stimulators cost about A$55,000 per patient, including the device, its insertion, and managing any associated additional surgeries.
For people who only had a “trial” – where the leads are implanted temporarily but the battery pack remains outside the body – this cost was about $14,000 per patient.
These figures do not include any out-of-pocket costs.
What do regulators say about the devices?
In 2022 the TGA began a review of spinal cord stimulators on the market because of safety and performance concerns.
The rest of the devices had conditions imposed, such as the manufacturers being required to collect and report safety data to the TGA at regular time points.
Should I do my own online research?
Yes, but be careful. Unfortunately not all online information about spinal cord stimulators is correct.
Look for sites independent of those who manufacture or implant these devices.
Government agencies, health departments and universities that have no financial interests in this area may be a better option.
The Cochrane Library is also a reliable and independent source for trustworthy health information.
What shall I ask my doctor?
The Australian health department provides useful advice for consumers about medical implants.
It says medical implants “are considered higher-risk therapeutic goods, and the decision to get one should not be taken lightly”. It recommends asking your health professional these questions:
do I really need this medical implant?
what are the risks/benefits?
is the medical implant approved?
where can I get more information?
what happens if I experience an adverse event?
What else could I do for my back pain?
There are other treatment options that are effective and have fewer risks than spinal cord stimulation.
For example, education about how to manage your pain yourself, exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy (a type of psychological therapy), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (such as ibuprofen) all have solid evidence to back them. All offer benefits that are not outweighed by their potential risks.
Australian research has shown other types of therapy – such as sensorimotor retraining and cognitive functional therapy – are also effective. You can discuss these and other options with your health professional.
Spinal cord stimulation is a good example of a treatment that got ahead of the evidence. Although the devices have been around since the 1960s, we’ve only had reliable trials to test whether they work in recent years.
Everyone wants to find ways to help people with chronic pain, but we must ensure medical care is grounded in reliable science.
Christopher Maher holds a research fellowship funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Caitlin Jones does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jill Sheppard, Senior Lecturer, School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University
Despite many pre-election predictions, the 48th Australian parliament looks quite similar to the 47th. The Labor Party has greater representation than before: 94 Members of the House of Representatives (up from 77) and 29 Senators (up from 26).
The Coalition’s numbers were famously smashed at the election, and will be represented by 43 Members and 27 Senators.
Despite the landslide electoral victory, Labor’s parliamentary position is not materially improved. It retains a majority in the House of Representatives, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces the problem of finding jobs to keep such a large backbench occupied. Restless politicians reliably create havoc for their leaders (just ask Keir Starmer).
In the Senate, Labor has more possible paths to a majority, but none is particularly pretty. Pre-election, the government required 12 additional senators to support its legislation. Often this support came from the Coalition, with the crossbench bypassed entirely, as in the case of political donation reforms.
Other reforms, including workplace relations, were passed by a combination of Greens and independent senators.
Labor can achieve a majority (38 votes) in the new Senate by negotiating with either the Greens or the Coalition. If neither is forthcoming, Labor can then turn to a disparate group of crossbenchers: four One Nation Senators, plus Fatima Payman, Jacqui Lambie, Ralph Babet and David Pocock.
How the new Senate configuration affects Labor’s legislative agenda depends on what exactly that agenda looks like.
Labor went into the 47th parliament emphasising the Voice referendum, COVID and rising inflation.
At the end of that term, ten bills were listed for debate but were “timed out” by the constitutional requirement to hold an election.
The most controversial of these is the proposal to add a new 15% tax on superannuation balances of more than $3 million. The Greens, under previous leader Adam Bandt, promised to support the bill in 2023 pending the government extending superannuation to paid parental leave (which was legislated in 2024 and came into effect on July 1 2025).
The Greens continue to support the tax proposal in principle, but want the threshold lowered to $2 million.
One Nation is strongly opposed. The Coalition has expressed willingness to negotiate on the condition that unrealised gains are exempt from valuations.
The government has also proposed cutting the number of overseas students at Australian universities, ostensibly due to concerns over exploitation of the student visa program. The Greens have called the proposal “disastrous for tertiary education”.
Pocock and the Coalition have both called for key changes to the bill. Their primary concerns are about a ministerial power to decide appropriate student numbers without parliamentary approval.
Despite opposing the bill for different reasons, the Greens and Coalition were willing to team up against the government – perhaps foreshadowing strategy in the new parliament.
What’s on the horizon?
Labor announced just 15 specific policy proposals before the election. Only two costed promises are registered with the Parliamentary Budget Office. This gives Labor a free hand to determine its policy agenda in the 48th parliament.
Right out of the gate, the government promised to cut HECS debt by 20%. Given the Greens would wipe all current HECS debt, they seem likely to wave this through the Senate.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has since declared that while “the first term was primarily inflation without forgetting productivity, the second term will be primarily productivity without forgetting inflation”.
In search of new thinking, the government has announced an economic reform roundtable comprising government, business and experts, and covering economic resilience, skills, new technologies, healthcare reform and clean energy.
Productivity is notoriously difficult to measure and improve. Whether policies arising from the roundtable will pass the parliament remains to be seen.
However, the government’s invitation to Shadow Treasurer Ted O’Brien was accompanied with commentary that Chalmers does not believe O’Brien or his leader Sussan Ley are “by their nature constructive, collaborative types”.
Other election policies should be legislated with ease. The Coalition has already supported purchasing the Port of Darwin, promised instant asset write-offs for small business, and pledged to match Labor’s Medicare spending dollar for dollar.
The Coalition is also likely to support new fast-track training for 6,000 tradies.
In general, the government’s stated agenda is incremental and should be achievable in this parliament. If the Greens won’t play ball, the Coalition will be waiting in line.
This will probably lead to quixotic policymaking as Labor bounces between two ideologically opposed partners.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HANOI, July 20 (Xinhua) — Thirty-five people have been confirmed dead and four are missing after a tourist boat sank in Halong Bay off the coast of Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam, local authorities said Sunday.
The Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee released the above figures at a press conference on Sunday afternoon, adding that 10 people had been rescued.
Previously, 37 people were reported dead, but after verification, the number was adjusted to 35 people.
The Vietnam News Agency clarified that there were 46 passengers and three crew members on board the plane, all Vietnamese citizens. Earlier it was announced that there were 53 people on board.
The ship capsized on Saturday during an excursion after being caught in a storm.
The search area has been expanded to locate the four missing persons. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Today, President Donald J. Trump celebrates the most successful first six months in office for any President in modern American history.
Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill, thereby delivering the largest tax cut in American history, increasing Americans’ take-home pay by as much as $13,300, and terminating benefits for at least 1.4 million illegal immigrants who were gaming the system.
Congress passed President Trump’s historic rescissions package, which will save taxpayers $9 billion in wasteful, politically-motivated funding for leftwing foreign aid scams and biased NPR and PBS.
The wholesale price of a dozen eggs is down 53%, or $3.09, since the inauguration and is down 62%, or $5.08, from its March peak.
The U.S. economy has now added a net of 671,000 jobs since January 2025, with jobs numbers beating expectations four months in a row. Native-born workers have accounted for all job gains, with native-born employment increasing 2,079,000 while foreign-born employment has fallen 543,000.
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol encountered just 6,070 illegal immigrants at the southern border in June — setting a new record low (15% lower than the previous record set in March). Additionally, zero illegal immigrants were released into the U.S. on parole in June, compared to 27,766 a year prior.
The administration has ramped up deportations, breaking a record for the number of deportation flights in a month in June. President Trump’s self-deportation push has also been a massive success. Additionally, over 600 known and suspected terrorists have been removed from the United States.
At President Trump’s direction, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has arrested over 100,000 illegal alien criminals, including over 2,700 members of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang.
Following President Trump’s declaration of an energy emergency, the U.S. has reached its fastest rate of new oil and gas drilling permits in years, exceeding the Biden administration by 44%.
Since President Trump took office, core inflation has tracked at just 2.1% — levels not seen since the first Trump Administration, when prices were low and stable — and has come in below or at economists’ expectations every single month. Meanwhile, wholesale inflation remained flat in June, while import prices came in far below expectations.
Summer gas prices reached their lowest point since 2021, and, inflation-adjusted, are near a 20-year low.
President Trump’s deregulatory efforts have already saved Americans over $180 billion, or $2,100 per family of four, with the rollback of automobile-related rules alone expected to save consumers more than $1.1 trillion.
President Trump secured a historic agreement for NATO members to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP – a foreign policy feat long thought impossible.
Under President Trump’s strong and decisive leadership, the U.S. obliterated Iran’s nuclear program.
As a result of his historic peacemaking efforts, President Trump has alreadyreceivedthree Nobel Peace Prize nominations since returning to office.
In May, blue-collar wage growth saw its largest increase in nearly 60 years since President Trump’s return to office.
Companies and foreign governments have pledged over $7.6 trillion in investments into the U.S.
The U.S. Treasury has taken in nearly $90 billion in tariff duties since January 2025, with the agency posting a record $27.2 billion surplus in June – the first June surplus since 2005.
President Trump has once again proved to be the Dealmaker-in-Chief, inking a minerals deal with Ukraine, a $14 billion “perpetual Golden Share” sale of U.S. Steel, and trade deals with the United Kingdom, China, and Indonesia.
President Trump has signed over 170 executive orders, delivering on key campaign promises such as closing the border, protecting children from chemical and surgical mutilation, removing men from women’s sports, unleashing American energy, ending federal censorship, ending the radical indoctrination in K-12 schooling, and ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq market indices have reached multiple record highs.
The Supreme Court consistently bolstered the Trump administration’s agenda, blocking activist judges from issuing nationwide injunctions, permitting “third-country deportations,” greenlighting the revocation of temporary protected status (TPS) from more than 500,000 migrants and approving efforts to shrink the federal bureaucracy.
The Trump administration has made incredible strides in its effort to Make America Healthy Again, with roughly 35% of the American food industry making a commitment to eliminate the use of artificial dyes, including Hershey, Consumer Brands and dozens of ice cream companies representing more than 90% of the ice cream volume sold in the U.S.
President Trump has ensured U.S. benefit programs serve U.S. citizens, with the administration now having protected more than $40 billion in benefit programs from illegal aliens since POTUS signed an Executive Order in February “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.”
President Trump inked an agreement to provide billions of dollars of military equipment to Ukraine, with NATO footing the bill.
President Trump has cracked down on international cartels, designating eight Latin American cartels as terrorist groups, including Tren de Aragua, MS-13 and the Sinaloa Cartel.
President Trump has solidified the U.S.’s position as the world leader in artificial intelligence, attracting north of $1 trillion in AI investment, including $90 billion in groundbreaking AI and energy investments in Pennsylvania.
The U.S. is on track for its lowest murder rate on record following President Trump’s reinstatement of law and order.
Hospitals and hospital systems across the country have halted so-called “gender-affirming care” for minors following President Trump’s executive order “protecting children from chemical and surgical mutilation.”
In his first six months, President Trump has met with 23 foreign leaders, including three visits from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as two visits from the NATO Secretary General — compared to thirteen foreign leaders and the UN Secretary General, the NATO Secretary General, and the Chinese Foreign Minister for Obama and just five in-person visits for Biden.
As part of ongoing efforts required under the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) captures and monitors grizzly bears for research and monitoring purposes. Here you will find capture notifications for the current field season.
Capture operations can include a variety of activities such as baiting and trapping, but all areas where work is being conducted will have major access points marked with warning signs. Specific bait or capture sites will have closure signs in the immediate vicinity. It is critical that all members of the public heed these signs.
As part of the IGBST Public Notification and Signing Protocol, the Grizzly Bear Capture Hotline was developed to assist in notification of IGBST trapping operations, as well as serve as a public outreach tool for those with questions pertaining to IGBST capture operations.
NOTE: State and federal wildlife managers capture bears for both management and research purposes. For questions pertaining to non IGBST bear capture activity, please call state and federal wildlife management officials directly.
For more information about IGBST capture operations, call the IGBST hotline at 406-994-6675
Bear Capture Announcements
Back to theInteragency Grizzly Bear Study Team website
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CHANGSHA, July 20 (Xinhua) — Four construction workers were trapped while working underground at a highway construction site in Changsha, capital of central China’s Hunan Province, after heavy rain on Sunday afternoon, local authorities said.
According to the Publicity Department of the CPC Tianxin District Committee, the incident occurred at around 4:50 p.m. local time in Heishipu Community in the district. As of 10 p.m. Sunday, two people had been rescued and taken to hospital for medical treatment.
The search and rescue operation for the remaining two construction workers continues. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
LANZHOU, July 20 (Xinhua) — Six people, including an investor, director and cooks of a kindergarten, were arrested in northwest China’s Gansu Province after deliberately adding toxic lead dyes to baby food, poisoning 247 preschoolers, the government’s investigation revealed Sunday.
An investigation by Gansu provincial authorities involving state environmental and health experts concluded that cooks at Heshi Peixin Kindergarten in Maiji District, Tianshui City added dyes labeled “inedible” to flour to make corn buns with sausage and date cakes. The baked goods were served to children and staff several times a month since May 2024.
The director of the kindergarten, with the approval of the investor, advised the cooks to make the food more colorful and attractive. Laboratory analysis of food samples from the kindergarten revealed excess lead concentrations, which amounted to 1,340 mg/kg in corn buns and 1,052 mg/kg in date cakes, which is significantly higher than the permissible levels.
Based on the testing results, 247 of the 251 children had abnormal blood lead levels, including 14 cases that were found on retesting. In addition, 28 staff members had elevated blood lead levels.
As of Sunday afternoon, all 247 children had been treated in hospital or with clinical nutrition at home. A total of 234 children had completed the first course of treatment and were discharged from hospitals, with one child still hospitalized. Five children who left the daycare last year were also found to have abnormal blood lead levels and are currently being treated at home with clinical nutrition.
According to the experts’ conclusion, after providing medical assistance, the level of lead in the patients’ blood decreased by 40.21 percent, which corresponds to the therapeutic goal.
Law enforcement arrested six suspects, two of whom were remanded in custody and three of whom were released on bail pending investigation. The investigation into the case is ongoing. The provincial disciplinary authorities are investigating 10 local officials, including the head of the provincial health committee and Tianshui city leaders.
The Gansu provincial government has promised to provide all-round support for medical care for children, including providing free treatment and financial assistance to families who choose to receive treatment in other regions. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
In a statement released on 19 July, MONUSCO said that the Declaration of Principles, signed in Doha under the mediation of Qatar, “reflects the parties’ resolve to prioritise peaceful means, establish a ceasefire, and set up a joint mechanism to define its practical implementation.”
“This important declaration marks a shift towards easing tensions and protecting civilians seriously affected by the conflict,” declared Mr. Bruno Lemarquis, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC and Acting Head of MONUSCO. “We commend the commitments made and call for their timely and good-faith implementation.”
These commitments include measures to facilitate the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their places or countries of origin, and the encouragement of inclusive dialogue, seen as vital to addressing the root causes of the conflict and achieving lasting peace.
Earlier this year, the M23 launched an offensive in North and South Kivu provinces, capturing cities and villages, including provincial capitals Goma and Bukavu. Thousands of civilians were killed, hundreds of thousands more were displaced, and serious human rights violations were committed.
The Declaration of Principles comes less than a month after a peace agreement signed by Congo and Rwanda, long accused by the Congolese Government of supporting the M23.
The Mission’s statement highlighted the Declaration’s emphasis on civilian protection and support for the ceasefire, with assistance from MONUSCO and other partners, and reaffirmed its readiness to support the cessation of hostilities, particularly through the establishment of a credible and jointly agreed verification mechanism.
MONUSCO’s statement concluded by urging all parties to honour their commitments, act in good faith throughout the process, and prioritise human rights, security, and the aspirations of the Congolese people in all decisions.
Many low income households across Aotearoa are now living below the income floor, with increasingly fewer households able to cover the bare essentials, according to new research released today by Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG).
The research builds on modelling by the Welfare Expert Advisory Group (WEAG) and ext
DHS has accomplished more in six months than most Administrations achieve in an entire term
WASHINGTON – In just six months, President Trump and Secretary Noem have delivered the American people a long list of victories in their mission to secure the homeland and Make America Safe Again.
Under their leadership, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has closed the southern border, removed violent criminal illegal aliens, restored law and order to our immigration system, supported Americans in times of crisis, revolutionized our Coast Guard to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, and kept Americans safe.
Secured the Southern Border
On day one, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border.
President Trump immediately reinstated “Remain in Mexico” and ended catch-and-release.
Daily border encounters have plunged by 93% since President Trump took office.
Under President Trump’s leadership, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has located over 10,000 unaccompanied children.
Migrants are turning BACK before they even reach our border— migration through Panama’s Darien Gap is down 99%.
President Trump—with $46.5 billion from the Big Beautiful Bill—is finishing the border wall. DHS already has more than 85 miles either planned or under construction with funding from the prior year, in addition to hundreds of miles that are now planned to be funded by the bill. President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill also includes over $5 billion for new technology and border surveillance.
With the Big Beautiful Bill, CBP will get the resources they need to keep America safe, including $4.1 billion to hire additional personnel, including 5,000 more customs officers and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents.
In June, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had the lowest number of nationwide encounters in CBP history at 25,228.
The number of nationwide apprehensions in June was also a historic low of just 8,024.
Notably, on June 28, Border Patrol recorded only 136 apprehensions across the entire Southwest Border—the lowest single-day total in agency history.
And in both May and June, U.S. Border Patrol reported zero parole releases—reinforcing the Administration’s commitment to ending catch-and-release policies.
Removed the Worst of the Worst Illegal Aliens
The Trump Administration empowered our brave men and women in law enforcement to use common sense to do their jobs effectively.
DHS returned to using the term “illegal alien” which is the statutory language. President Trump will not allow political correctness to hinder law enforcement.
The Trump administration has arrested more than 300,000illegal aliens in 2025 alone.
70% of ICE arrests are criminal illegal aliens with criminal charges or convictions.
The Big Beautiful Bill will allow ICE to arrest and remove even more criminal aliens by providing $14.4 billion for removals, 10,000 new ICE agents, 80,000 new ICE beds, and a $10,000 signing bonus for new ICE agents. This will help ICE achieve as many as 1 million deportations per year.
As part of 287(g), DHS partnered with the State of Florida and opened Alligator Alcatraz, giving the Trump administration the capability to lock up some of the worst scumbags who entered the country illegally under the previous administration. The new facility expands facility and bed space by the thousands.
Operation Tidal Wave, the first 287(g) enforcement operation coordinated with state and federal law enforcement partners, resulted in over 800 arrests.
President Trump and Secretary Noem are empowering state and local law enforcement to get these criminal illegal aliens off our streets. DHS has secured more than 800 signed agreements with state and local partnerships under 287(g).
At the direction of President Trump, CBP and ICE began widescale immigration enforcement operations in sanctuary city Los Angeles and southern California. The month-long operation resulted in arresting some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.
In July, federal law enforcement officers executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana grow sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo. At least 14 migrant children have been rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor and human trafficking. Federal officers also arrested at least 361 illegal aliens from both sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo.
After weeks of delays by activist judges, the Department of Homeland Security finally deported eight barbaric, violent criminal illegal aliens to South Sudan.
Delivering Justice for Victims of Illegal Immigration
President Trump and Secretary Noem reopened the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office, which was shuttered by the Biden Administration. President Trump and Secretary Noem are standing up for the victims of illegal alien crime and ensuring they have access to much needed resources and support they deserve.
Incentivizing Historic Self-Deportations
President Trump ended the CBP One app that allowed more than one million aliens to illegally enter the U.S. The Trump Administration replaced this disastrous program with the CBP Home app, which has a new self-deportation reporting feature for aliens illegally in the country.
President Trump launched Project Homecoming through a presidential EO. The United States is also offering any illegal alien who uses the CBP Home App a stipend of $1,000 dollars, paid after their return to their home country has been confirmed through the app. So far, tens of thousands of illegal aliens have used the app to self-deport.
In addition to offering CBP Home, DHS announced illegal aliens who self-deport through the app will receive forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the United States. DHS also made CBP Home more user friendly by eliminating certain steps and making it easier than ever for illegal aliens to self-deport.
DHS and DOJ are enforcing our immigration laws and fining illegal aliens who do not depart when they are supposed to. So far, nearly 10,000 fine notices have been issued by ICE.
Restoring Common Sense to America’s Legal Immigration System
President Trump ended the broad abuse of humanitarian parole and returned the program to a case-by-case basis. As part of this effort, Secretary Noem terminated the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela parole programs.
Following victory at the U.S. Supreme Court, DHS began sending termination notices in June, informing the illegal aliens both their parole is terminated, and their parole-based employment authorization is revoked – effective immediately.
DHS has returned the Temporary Protected Status immigration program to its original status: temporary. No longer will this program be abused and exploited by illegal aliens. Secretary Noem rescinded the previous administration’s extension of Venezuelan, Haitian, Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Afghan TPS.
Secretary Noem terminated Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification—meaning Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status—for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.
It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from higher tuition to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard University repeatedly abused this privilege and even stonewalled DHS’s request for information.
Initiating a Golden Age in American Air Travel
Secretary Noem terminated the politically motivated Quiet Skies Program, which since its existence has failed to stop a single terrorist attack while costing US taxpayers $200 million a year. The program, under the guise of “national security,” was used to target political opponents and benefit political allies.
TSA ended the “shoes-off” travel policy, allowing passengers traveling through domestic airports to keep their shoes on while passing through security screening at TSA checkpoints. This change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience.
The Trump administration fully implemented REAL ID enforcement measures nationwide—a law signed 20 years ago. REAL ID helps ensure that travelers are who they say they are and prevents fraud by criminals, terrorists, and illegal aliens. Most travelers have not even noticed a difference because nearly 94% of travelers are already REAL ID compliant.
Secretary Noem ended collective bargaining for the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Transportation Security Officers, which constrained TSA’s chief mission to safeguard our transportation systems.
Fixing Disaster Relief for the 21st Century
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is now shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens. The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades.
President Trump has established the FEMA Review Council to provide recommendations on how to best conduct disaster relief at the federal level.
Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, the FEMA Review Council is developing a comprehensive plan for necessary change.
DHS has empowered state and local governments to lead disaster relief efforts without interference from the federal government.
Provided Rapid and Effective Support to Flood Victims in Texas
Within moments of the flooding in Texas, DHS assets, including the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), CBP Border Search, CBP BORSTAR, and FEMA personnel surged into unprecedented action alongside Texas first responders for search and rescue operations.
FEMA deployed 311 staffers delivering critical intelligence, aerial imagery, and shelter for 171 survivors.
Combined state and federal rescue efforts evacuated and rescued over 1,500 people.
Getting CISA Back on Mission
Under the Biden Administration, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) censored free speech and targeted Americans.
Under President Trump’s direction, DHS closed CISA’s politically weaponized offices and fired those responsible for abusing their power.
CISA is now back on-mission: Protecting Americans and critical infrastructure from cyberthreats.
CISA is shifting away from an all-hazards approach to a risk-informed approach, prioritizing resilience and action over mere information sharing.
CISA personnel are deployed across 10 regions in support of all 56 states/territories.
CISA is also on the front lines of defending America from cyberattacks.
CISA partnered with the FBI and NSA to ensure state and local governments have information and resources necessary for protection.
CISA is also providing security support for next year’s FIFA World Cup.
Secretary Noem discontinued the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC) as a part of the implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order 14217, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, and removed members of the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), which CISA oversees.
Revolutionizing the Coast Guard
When President Trump came back into office, the Coast Guard faced its greatest readiness crisis since World War II because the Biden Administration left it underfunded and neglected.
President Trump’s order to surge Coast Guard assets to our maritime border changed the game.
In the first few months of the Trump Administration, the Coast Guard seized more cocaine and other illegal drugs than during the entirety of 2024.
For the first time in years, the Coast Guard expects to exceed its recruiting goals.
In Fiscal Year 2025, the Coast Guard has brought in more than 4,250 recruits – 1,200 more than the same time last year.
That’s 108% over the goal.
Under Biden, the Coast Guard fell short of its recruiting goals four years straight.
Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, the Coast Guard is unleashing “Force Design 2028,” a revolutionary new blueprint that will make the Coast Guard more agile, more capable, and more responsive than ever before.
Standing up for the American taxpayer
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) eliminated an ineffective information technology (IT) program, saving nearly $33 million, and is now focusing resources where they’re most needed to protect our homeland.
USCG partially terminated a wasteful Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG), which has been slow to deliver four OPCs, harming U.S. defense capabilities.
The Trump Administration stopped aliens on the Terror Watchlist from receiving Medicaid benefits.
Secretary Noem cancelled CISA’s expensive headquarters project, saving taxpayers over half a billion dollars.
To stop policies that were magnets for illegal immigration, DHS froze all funding to non-governmental organizations that facilitate illegal immigration and announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure taxpayer dollars do not go to housing illegal aliens.
An agreement signed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government and the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) has been hailed by the UN peacekeeping mission in the country (MONUSCO) as “an important step toward sustainable peace.
In a statement released on 19 July, MONUSCO said that the Declaration of Principles, signed in Doha under the mediation of Qatar, “reflects the parties’ resolve to prioritize peaceful means, establish a ceasefire, and set up a joint mechanism to define its practical implementation.”
“This important declaration marks a shift toward easing tensions and protecting civilians seriously affected by the conflict,” declared Mr. Bruno Lemarquis, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC and Acting Head of MONUSCO. “We commend the commitments made and call for their timely and good faith implementation.”
Those commitments include measures to facilitate the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of internally displaced persons and refugees to their places or countries of origin, and the encouragement of inclusive dialogue, seen as vital to addressing the root causes of the conflict and achieving lasting peace.
Earlier this year, the M23 launched an offensive in North and South Kivu provinces, capturing cities and villages, including provincial capitals Goma and Bukavu. Thousands of civilians were killed, hundreds of thousands more were displaced, and serious human rights violations were committed.
The Declaration of Principles comes less than a month after a peace agreement signed by Congo and Rwanda, long accused by the Congolese government of supporting the M23.
The Mission’s statement highlighted the Declaration’s emphasis on civilian protection and support for the ceasefire, with assistance from MONUSCO and other partners, and reaffirmed its readiness to support the cessation of hostilities, particularly through the establishment of a credible and jointly agreed verification mechanism.
MONUSCO’s statement concluded by urging all parties to honour their commitments, act in good faith throughout the process, and prioritise human rights, security, and the aspirations of the Congolese people in all decisions.
The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.
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