NewzIntel.com

Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s message on the Day of the Seafarer [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations

    Seafarers keep global trade flowing – delivering food, medicine, and vital goods around the world. Their work is essential to our lives and economies.

    Yet too often, their rights are denied, and their safety is put at risk.

    This year, we shine a light on harassment and discrimination faced by many seafarers, including women, young workers and those in isolated or vulnerable conditions.

    Zero-tolerance policies and inclusive workplace cultures that support the mental health of seafarers are essential.  So, too, is coordinated action – among governments, industry and workers – to uphold labour standards and ensure safe, fair and humane conditions at sea.

    On this International Day of the Seafarer, let us commit to a maritime sector anchored in equality, respect and dignity.

    ***

    Les gens de mer assurent la fluidité du commerce mondial en transportant des denrées alimentaires, des médicaments et des biens vitaux dans le monde entier. Leurs activités sont essentielles à nos vies et à nos économies.

    Pourtant, trop souvent, leurs droits sont bafoués et leur sécurité mise en péril.

    Cette année, nous mettons en lumière le harcèlement et la discrimination qui frappent de nombreux marins, notamment les femmes, les jeunes et les gens de mer qui se trouvent dans des situations d’isolement ou de vulnérabilité.

    Les politiques de tolérance zéro et les cultures de travail inclusives qui préservent la santé mentale des gens de mer sont essentielles. De même, une action coordonnée – entre les gouvernements, les entreprises et les travailleurs – est nécessaire pour faire respecter les normes du travail et garantir des conditions sûres, équitables et humaines en mer.

    En cette journée internationale des gens de mer, engageons-nous en faveur d’un secteur maritime soucieux d’assurer l’égalité, le respect et la dignité.

    ***
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Invest New Zealand legislation passes

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Parliament has today passed legislation to formally establish Invest New Zealand, clearing the way for the new investment attraction agency to begin operations on 1 July 2025.

    “This marks a major step in the Government’s plan to grow the economy by attracting more international capital, businesses and talent into New Zealand,” Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says.

    “Invest New Zealand will have a clear commercial focus—working directly with global investors to unlock opportunities that create jobs, boost innovation, and lift our long-term productivity.”

    Budget 2025 committed $85 million over four years to support the agency’s establishment as an autonomous Crown entity.

    Invest New Zealand will:

    • Drive investment into advanced and high-growth industries;
    • Connect offshore investors with local businesses and research opportunities;
    • Support global companies to grow their R&D footprint in New Zealand;
    • Help build the skills base needed to support a more innovative economy.

    A private sector advisory group, chaired by Rob Morrison, has played a key role in designing the agency’s framework and will continue to provide strategic advice as the agency scales up.

    “Invest New Zealand will act as a bridge between global capital and New Zealand’s economic potential,” Mr McClay says.

    “It’s about making it easier to do business here—cutting red tape, speeding up decision-making, and targeting investment that delivers long-term benefits for the country.”

    The agency will be up and running 1 July. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Child Fund – Children bear the brunt as risk of war increases

    Source: ChildFund New Zealand

    Violence against children in areas with armed conflict has reached unprecedented levels, with children bearing the brunt of violent clashes, indiscriminate attacks, disregard for ceasefires and peace agreements, and deepening humanitarian crisis, according to a new report from the United Nations.
    “As wars across the world escalate, from Ukraine and Yemen, to Gaza, Israel and Iran, it is always children who suffer the most and are uniquely vulnerable to abuse,” says Josie Pagani, CEO of ChildFund.
    According to the United Nation’s annual report into Children and Armed Conflict, last year:
    • 22,495 children were illegally recruited into armed groups, killed, maimed, raped or victims of other forms of sexual violence, and abduction in conflict zones
    • 4,676 children were killed, and 7,291 maimed, affecting a staggering 11,967 children
    • 41,370 were victims of grave violations, including attacks on schools and hospitals and denial of humanitarian access
    • Grave violations against children increased by 545% in Lebanon, 525% in Mozambique and 490% in Haiti
    • 3,018 children were jailed for association with parties to conflict.
    “In too many examples, perpetrators targeted attacks on children, used explosive weapons in populated areas, and systematically exploited children in hostilities for military and sexual purposes.”
    “There is still a blatant disregard for international law at the moment, where ‘might is right’, and humanitarian access in war is denied. Children are the silent victims when the law is ignored,” says Josie Pagani.
    Charities like ChildFund are on the ground, doing what they can to protect children in war zones.
    “Through our partners in Gaza, we are distributing water, hygiene kits, and doing everything possible to keep on top of the rapid increase of illnesses spreading through communities and in the camps for displaced people.”
    In Gaza, 92% of homes, 88% of schools, 68% of cropland, and 68% of road networks have been destroyed, while only 50% of hospitals are functioning – most of them only partially.
    In Ukraine, ChildFund partners have reached nearly 3000 people, including 1,797 children and teenagers with food and water, and provided safe spaces for children to keep learning during the war, and to get the psychosocial support they need.
    “We must keep calling out those on all sides of a conflict who disregard international law, or recruit children as combatants in wars, target citizens illegally, or ride roughshod over the Convention of the Rights of the Child. These legal principles are there precisely to protect the most vulnerable people in the most violent situations.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZ becomes first country to back out of Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance – Greenpeace

    Source: Greenpeace

    Greenpeace says that the New Zealand Government has lost its last shred of climate credibility in light of its withdrawal from the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance – a global first.
    Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson says, “This is a Government that is refusing to invest in a safe and livable future. Luxon has made an unconscionable decision with no thought for the implications on our kids’ and grandkids’ futures.”
    “From choosing to reverse the oil and gas ban, to offering up $200 million in taxpayer-funded subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, it’s clear that Luxon can’t be trusted to make decisions on climate change.
    “Abandoning the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance is like withdrawing your investments in smartphones to back fax machines instead. These are not serious people.”
    Larsson says that there is a growing risk that the Government’s reversal of climate change policies will result in backlash from New Zealand’s trading partners, citing advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade that said that repealing the ban on offshore oil and gas was likely to breach New Zealand’s free trade deals with the UK and European Union.
    Additionally, Member of the European Parliament Saskia Bricmont has asked questions of the European Trade Commissioner about the impacts of New Zealand’s regressive climate policies on the EU-NZ Free Trade Agreement – specifically, the move to revise New Zealand’s methane emissions target in line with the controversial concept of ‘no additional warming’.
    “The Luxon Government is bending over backwards for two of the most polluting industries in the world – the intensive livestock industry, and the fossil fuel industry,” says Larsson.
    “They are turning New Zealand into a laughing stock on the global stage as they continue to let polluters write policies that harm regular people.
    “Already, international climate scientists have called out the Prime Minister for ignoring scientific evidence by exploring dodgy accounting tricks for measuring methane emissions from livestock. It is the first time in Luxon’s political or business career that he has made the front page of the Financial Times – and it was humiliating. He should expect more international criticism to come.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ18: Licence for billiard establishment

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ18: Licence for billiard establishment 
    Question:
     
    Under the Places of Amusement Regulation (Chapter 132BA), Places of Amusement Licence must be obtained for the operation of billiard establishment with four tables or more. However, it is learnt that some billiard establishments without the required licence are operating inside industrial buildings, evading the licensing requirement by adopting such operating practices as providing three or fewer tables in subdivided or sub-‍let units. There are views that such practices may contravene the deeds of mutual covenant of the buildings and create an unfair advantage over other billiard establishments that are licensed. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it has compiled the following information on billiard establishments that currently provide three or fewer tables but have not obtained the licence: (i) the number of billiard establishments, (ii) ‍the number of units involved, (iii) the duration of operation, and (iv) whether the deeds of mutual covenant of the buildings occupied by such establishments have been contravened, together with a breakdown by the 18 districts across the territory; if not, whether it has plans to start compiling and maintaining such information from now on;
     
    (2) of the following information on complaints received by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) regarding illegal operation of billiard establishments each year over the past five years: (i) the number of complaints received, (ii) the number of complaints found to be substantiated, (iii) the number of prosecutions initiated, (iv) the number of successful prosecutions, (v) the number of persons prosecuted, (vi) the offences involved, and (vii) the number of billiard establishments involved;
     
    (3) whether it has plans to step up efforts in combatting billiard establishments operating illegally, and those adopting the aforesaid practices to evade the licensing requirement, such as stepping up law enforcement actions, amending relevant laws, and imposing harsher penalties; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (4) as some members of the industry have relayed that currently applications for the licence for billiard establishments need to be vetted and approved by different government departments such as the LCSD, the Fire Services Department, and the Buildings Department, and it has taken over nine months for some cases to be processed (meaning that the applicants have to pay nine months’ rent for premises not yet placed in service but intended for operating the billiard establishment, amounting to several million dollars), whether the Government has plans to expedite the vetting and approval process for the licence; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    My reply to the Hon Yung Hoi-yan’s questions are set out below:
     
    (1) The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is responsible for the licensing of billiard establishments with four or more billiard tables pursuant to the Places of Amusement Regulation (Cap. 132BA) under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (the Ordinance). It maintains a register of licensed billiard establishments to ensure that the licensees comply with, among others, the requirements in respect of fire safety, building safety and health. It does not keep any information on venues with three or fewer billiard tables.
     
    (2) Over the past five years (from January 2021 to June 2025), the number of complaints and prosecutions related to suspected unlicensed operation of billiard establishments handled by the LCSD is tabulated below:
     

      
    The LCSD will take immediate follow-up actions upon receiving complaints about suspected unlicensed billiard establishments (including evasion of the need to obtain licences by any means) or case referrals from other departments. The LCSD may, depending on actual circumstances, launch joint operations with other law enforcement departments. If unlicensed operation is confirmed after investigation, the LCSD will prosecute the operator in accordance with the law. Any person operating a regulated billiard establishment without a licence issued under the Ordinance, upon conviction, may be sentenced to imprisonment for up to six months and a maximum fine of $25,000. In addition, if other irregularities (such as violation of lease conditions) are found at the premises, the LCSD will refer such cases to relevant departments for follow-up. The LCSD will continue to monitor the operation of billiard establishments and review the enforcement action and penalties under the existing legislation from time to time. The LCSD will step up efforts to combat the operation of unlicensed billiard establishments as and when necessary.
     
    (4) The dedicated page on Places of Amusement Licences on the LCSD’s website sets out the general licensing requirements, application guidelines and frequently asked questions to assist applicants interested in operating billiard establishments in preparing the necessary documents and layout plans for their licence applications.
     
    The time required to vet each application depends on whether the individual applicant meets the licensing conditions, as well as the time needed by relevant departments (including the Fire Services Department and the Buildings Department) to examine the information submitted by the applicant and approve the relevant works for the premises concerned. If the applicant responds to and follows up on the advice of relevant departments in a timely manner, the approval process can generally be completed in about four to seven months upon receipt of the application and all required information.
     
    The LCSD is committed to simplifying the application procedures for Places of Amusement Licences all along, and will continue to review and refine relevant procedures, including simplifying the application forms and providing online submission channel. Furthermore, the LCSD will continue to work closely with various departments concerned to process applications as quickly as practicable upon receipt of the required information from applicants with a view to expediting the vetting process.
    Issued at HKT 12:10

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Development Asia: Reaching the Right Households: Reforming Social Aid in Sri Lanka

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Concerns with eligibility criteria

    Some of these relate to the inclusion of households not facing economic hardship and the exclusion of families living in poverty. There’s a need to refine the current criteria to better identify households experiencing temporary financial difficulties, even if they own certain assets.

    Challenges in data verification

    Another area for improvement in Aswesuma is the difficulty officials face in verifying household information related to eligibility. For example, errors may occur during data collection if households withhold accurate information about their poverty status to qualify for benefits or are unable to recall details correctly. These inaccuracies can reduce the program’s effectiveness by excluding people who genuinely need help and undermining efforts to create a more objective social protection system.

    Improving follow-up and monitoring

    Better data collection methods during follow-ups with Aswesuma recipients would help improve the criteria. This would allow the program to monitor households’ economic conditions and track improvements resulting from cash transfers. The main goal of these transfers is to help participants move out of poverty by improving their living situations. Therefore, follow-up assessments should document any changes and measurable outcomes related to food insecurity or poverty levels. These outcomes should go beyond the current Aswesuma indicators to better reflect improvements in well-being.

    Addressing chronic and transient poverty

    Ongoing updates to Aswesuma should also improve its ability to target people experiencing both chronic and transient poverty. Chronic poverty refers to long-term deprivation, often passed down through generations, while transient poverty involves short-term income or spending losses, even when long-term resources are sufficient to stay above the poverty line (Duclos et al., 2078). The current deprivation score mainly focuses on chronic poverty, emphasizing household assets and housing conditions (13 of the 22 indicators are based on multidimensional measurements).

    Gaps in coverage and food insecurity

    While addressing chronic poverty is important, it’s also necessary to consider temporary poverty. A large portion of the population (households ineligible for Aswesuma but who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months) remains underserved. Of the 20% of the population that faced food insecurity, nearly 40% are not eligible for Aswesuma.

    Expanding the framework for vulnerability

    Given the current economic climate, with rising costs and income losses, measures of temporary poverty could help identify both long-term and short-term hardship, regardless of assets or housing. Including data on household members’ recent employment experiences, especially job loss, could offer a more complete picture of who needs support. The amount of cash transferred is unlikely to directly improve indicators related to household assets or other long-term poverty markers, as those require larger investments in education, health, and infrastructure (Lipton and Ravallion, 1995).

    Climate vulnerability and regional differences

    Climate vulnerability also adds complexity to household conditions. Although it’s difficult to measure, including it would help the program reach more at-risk groups in Sri Lanka.

    The current set of indicators can also be improved by accounting for both visible and hidden factors that influence household selection. The relevance of indicators varies by region and demographics. For example, vehicle use and electricity consumption depend on the availability of alternatives, which differ across the country. Rural households may lack access to transportation or electricity not because of poverty, but because those services aren’t available. Regional adjustments in how deprivation is measured could lead to more accurate assessments of poverty in both rural and urban areas.

    Asset ownership and agricultural work

    Asset indicators like ownership of agricultural machinery or land are influenced by both observable and hidden factors, including the decision to work in agriculture. This suggests a need for additional support programs, such as insurance for agricultural workers. In some areas, deprivation in agriculture-related indicators may actually reflect higher well-being, depending on location and market access.

    Labor market impacts and conditional transfers

    Finally, the program’s impact on labor market outcomes should be considered. The study predicts a drop in labor force participation for both men and women under various scenarios. This aligns with economic theory, which suggests that higher non-labor income reduces the need for paid work (Garganta et al., 2017). However, building resilience through employment is key to long-term poverty reduction. In some cases, transfers tied to employment have shown fewer negative, or even positive, effects on labor participation (Berlinski et al., 2024). While cash transfers are helpful for addressing food insecurity, exploring conditional transfers that encourage work and self-reliance is important for helping people move out of poverty.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Development Asia: Reaching the Right Households: Reforming Social Aid in Sri Lanka

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Concerns with eligibility criteria

    Some of these relate to the inclusion of households not facing economic hardship and the exclusion of families living in poverty. There’s a need to refine the current criteria to better identify households experiencing temporary financial difficulties, even if they own certain assets.

    Challenges in data verification

    Another area for improvement in Aswesuma is the difficulty officials face in verifying household information related to eligibility. For example, errors may occur during data collection if households withhold accurate information about their poverty status to qualify for benefits or are unable to recall details correctly. These inaccuracies can reduce the program’s effectiveness by excluding people who genuinely need help and undermining efforts to create a more objective social protection system.

    Improving follow-up and monitoring

    Better data collection methods during follow-ups with Aswesuma recipients would help improve the criteria. This would allow the program to monitor households’ economic conditions and track improvements resulting from cash transfers. The main goal of these transfers is to help participants move out of poverty by improving their living situations. Therefore, follow-up assessments should document any changes and measurable outcomes related to food insecurity or poverty levels. These outcomes should go beyond the current Aswesuma indicators to better reflect improvements in well-being.

    Addressing chronic and transient poverty

    Ongoing updates to Aswesuma should also improve its ability to target people experiencing both chronic and transient poverty. Chronic poverty refers to long-term deprivation, often passed down through generations, while transient poverty involves short-term income or spending losses, even when long-term resources are sufficient to stay above the poverty line (Duclos et al., 2078). The current deprivation score mainly focuses on chronic poverty, emphasizing household assets and housing conditions (13 of the 22 indicators are based on multidimensional measurements).

    Gaps in coverage and food insecurity

    While addressing chronic poverty is important, it’s also necessary to consider temporary poverty. A large portion of the population (households ineligible for Aswesuma but who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months) remains underserved. Of the 20% of the population that faced food insecurity, nearly 40% are not eligible for Aswesuma.

    Expanding the framework for vulnerability

    Given the current economic climate, with rising costs and income losses, measures of temporary poverty could help identify both long-term and short-term hardship, regardless of assets or housing. Including data on household members’ recent employment experiences, especially job loss, could offer a more complete picture of who needs support. The amount of cash transferred is unlikely to directly improve indicators related to household assets or other long-term poverty markers, as those require larger investments in education, health, and infrastructure (Lipton and Ravallion, 1995).

    Climate vulnerability and regional differences

    Climate vulnerability also adds complexity to household conditions. Although it’s difficult to measure, including it would help the program reach more at-risk groups in Sri Lanka.

    The current set of indicators can also be improved by accounting for both visible and hidden factors that influence household selection. The relevance of indicators varies by region and demographics. For example, vehicle use and electricity consumption depend on the availability of alternatives, which differ across the country. Rural households may lack access to transportation or electricity not because of poverty, but because those services aren’t available. Regional adjustments in how deprivation is measured could lead to more accurate assessments of poverty in both rural and urban areas.

    Asset ownership and agricultural work

    Asset indicators like ownership of agricultural machinery or land are influenced by both observable and hidden factors, including the decision to work in agriculture. This suggests a need for additional support programs, such as insurance for agricultural workers. In some areas, deprivation in agriculture-related indicators may actually reflect higher well-being, depending on location and market access.

    Labor market impacts and conditional transfers

    Finally, the program’s impact on labor market outcomes should be considered. The study predicts a drop in labor force participation for both men and women under various scenarios. This aligns with economic theory, which suggests that higher non-labor income reduces the need for paid work (Garganta et al., 2017). However, building resilience through employment is key to long-term poverty reduction. In some cases, transfers tied to employment have shown fewer negative, or even positive, effects on labor participation (Berlinski et al., 2024). While cash transfers are helpful for addressing food insecurity, exploring conditional transfers that encourage work and self-reliance is important for helping people move out of poverty.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: North Dakota Receives $2 Million in Interior PILT Funds

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announcedNorth Dakota will receive $2,093,127 in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2025 to support the costs associated with maintaining vital community services. PILT payments are calculated based on the number of acres of federal land within each county or jurisdiction, and population.
    PILT payments are made for tax-exempt federal lands administered by DOI bureaus, including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, PILT payments cover federal lands administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In FY24, North Dakota received nearly $2 million from PILT for counties encumbered by non-taxable federal land.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Sullivan Introduce Bill to Support Construction of “Golden Dome” Missile Defense System

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    Bill funds modernization of PARCS Radar in Cavalier
    ***Click here for photos.***
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the United States’ adversaries have developed and deployed next-generation missile delivery systems; the threat of such strategic weapons has become more complex. Despite this, the U.S. missile defense policy has been severely limited to only staying ahead of rogue threats and accidental or unauthorized missile launches.
    In the face of these emerging and pressing threats, missile defense plays an essential role in identifying, tracking, deterring, and defeating adversary missiles and other threats against the nation. To improve the missile defense capabilities of the United States, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Airland Subcommittee and co-chair of the Defense Modernization Caucus, was joined by fellow SASC member U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) in introducing the Ground and Orbital Launched Defeat of Emergent Nuclear Destruction and Other Missile Engagements (GOLDEN DOME) Act of 2025. U.S. Representative Mark Messmer (R-IN-08) introduced a companion measure in the House.
    Click here to watch 

    The bill is a sweeping legislative initiative to modernize and expand U.S. missile defense capabilities across all domains to protect the homeland against ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missiles, and drone threats. Specifically, it focuses on enhancing the all-domain awareness of the U.S missile defense system, bolstering the capacity of U.S. missiles and drones to defend against threats from rogue nations as well as near-peer nations, and accelerating the development of new capabilities to keep pace with future threats, particularly from hypersonics and cruise missiles.
    The GOLDEN DOME Act complements President Donald Trump’s executive order directing the implementation of a next-generation missile defense shield for the nation. The president nominated Vice Chief of Space Operations General Michael Guetlein to lead the implementation of the system.
    “Our adversaries have developed more advanced long-range weapons over the last couple of decades, posing a significant threat to our national security,” said Cramer. “We have to act in order to defend against the evolving and complex threat landscape. Senator Sullivan and I introduced the GOLDEN DOME Act to build a layered missile defense system, which protects our homeland from catastrophic attacks from modern missiles. Our bill puts the legislative muscle behind President Trump’s executive order to support his innovative vision of protecting our great nation from current and future threats. The Golden Dome is great for America, great for North Dakota, and great for Alaska. The time is now to prioritize the defense of the United States by modernizing our missile defense infrastructure.”
    “The escalating missile threats we’ve witnessed from the Iranian terrorist regime and the rapidly evolving missile threats from Russia and China demonstrate why we need to develop a robust, modernized missile defense system to protect the entire country—which the GOLDEN DOME Act will do,” said Sullivan. “The three prongs of successful policy in D.C. are presidential leadership, appropriated funding and comprehensive authorizing legislation. We have all three of these elements behind this historic Golden Dome initiative. President Trump has, for years, going back to his first term, driven the vision of a layered, open architecture missile defense system. Congress is stepping up with a down payment appropriation of $25 billion in the reconciliation bill. And now, we are introducing the GOLDEN DOME Act to cement this vision in law. The GOLDEN DOME Act will incorporate space-based sensors and new intercept technologies, significantly expand and modernize existing infrastructure, like the ground-based missile interceptor fields at Alaska’s Fort Greely and North Dakota’s PARCS radar system, and enhance all-domain awareness to counter, detect, track, and defeat potential missile threats. The great State of Alaska has been—and will continue to be—the cornerstone of our missile defense system. I look forward to working with my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to get this important legislation to President Trump’s desk to better secure the homeland.” 
    “In a world where hostile adversaries like Russia and China present an ever-present nuclear threat, America must stand ready to prevent nuclear weapons from harming our citizens,” said Messmer. “The Golden Dome Act fulfills President Trump’s initiative to keep America safe with this state of the art missile defense shield.”
    The GOLDEN DOME Act strengthens the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) independence and accelerates future tranches, which will likely be operated out of Grand Forks Air Force Base. Among other provisions, the bill requires the acceleration of the modernization and digitization of the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System (PARCS), located at North Dakota’s Cavalier Space Force Station. PARCS is a single-faced, multi-function, UHF-Band, phased-array radar system, which tracks over half of all earth-orbiting objects. The modernization of PARCS improves detection of intercontinental and sea-launched missile threats, as well as improves space domain awareness capabilities.

    This legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Katie Britt (R-AL), Jim Banks (R-IN), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Tim Scott (R-SC).
    Click here for bill text. Click here for expanded summary.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Bringing Complex Data to Life

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Bringing Complex Data to Life

    Art and technology can transform complex scientific data into compelling narratives that resonate both with policy-makers and the public.

    Join award-winning environmental artist Thijs Biersteker to discover how through interactive installations, AI-driven storytelling, fostering ecological intelligence and tangible data visualization he brings together science and art.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys-qFTnppMU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: A Conversation with Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister of Senegal

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    A Conversation with Ousmane Sonko, Prime Minister of Senegal

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zzWaXUKbus

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Where’s the Capital for Climate?

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Where’s the Capital for Climate?

    From $300 billion in annual climate commitments to support emerging economies to greater regulation of carbon credit trading, COP29 marked a crucial step forward for climate finance. However, the climate finance gap remains vast and trillions more are needed to drive rapid climate action.

    How can private and public sector involvement be amplified to unlock capital at scale?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNo9hQ9EJu0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Libya – Security Council Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (video statements)

    Briefing by Hannah Serwaa Tetteh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of UNSMIL, on the situation in Libya.

    Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Hanna Tetteh urged the Government of National Unity in Libya “to facilitate the full resumption of humanitarian operations, particularly those led by INGOs, which play a critical role in supporting vulnerable groups including Libyan women and children.”

    Briefing the Security Council today (24 Jun) Tetteh informed the members of the Council that on 20 June, the Berlin Process International Follow-up Committee on Libya (IFC-L) met in Berlin under the auspices of the Federal Republic of Germany and UNSMIL, “reconvening for the first time after a hiatus of 4 years.” She added, “The meeting marked a significant shift towards reinvigorating international coordination on Libya and consolidating international support to UN efforts in advancing a political process.”

    She also said, “The armed clashes that erupted in Tripoli in May resulted in civilian deaths and injuries, as well as damage to critical civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, universities and a prison. Despite several stress calls, no humanitarian corridors were secured by the parties involved in the clashes. These incidents also underscored the shortcomings of state security actors in adhering to international humanitarian and human rights law.”

    Tetteh said she was alarmed by the discovery of mass graves in the Abu Slim area, following the clashes. She said, “Emerging evidence indicates grave human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances, that were allegedly committed by state security actors, notably the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA).”

    Taher M. El-Sonni, Permanent Representative of Libya to the United Nations said, “For us to spend a year and a half being held hostage as we await the appointment of representatives and then witness continued absence of factual solutions. This is a collective responsibility upon everyone, including this Council. At the same time, no attention is given to genuine national initiatives, because it’s always said that the mediator must be a United Nations party. This is a contradiction. And this is an untenable situation. And we hope that this matter will proceed with urgency.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH2nsXbaoqU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • Fragile ceasefire holding, Trump envoy says peace talks with Iran ‘promising’

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump between Iran and Israel appeared to be holding on Wednesday a day after both countries signalled that their air war had ended, at least for now.

    Each side claimed victory on Tuesday after 12 days of war, which the U.S. joined with airstrikes in support of Israel to take out Iran’s uranium-enrichment facilities.

    Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said late on Tuesday that talks between the United States and Iran were “promising” and that Washington was hopeful for a long-term peace deal.

    “We are already talking to each other, not just directly but also through interlocutors. I think that the conversations are promising. We are hopeful that we can have a long-term peace agreement that resurrects Iran,” Witkoff said in an interview on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” show.

    “Now it’s for us to sit down with the Iranians and get to a comprehensive peace agreement, and I am very confident that we are going to achieve that,” he added.

    Trump said over the weekend that U.S. stealth bombers had “obliterated” Iran’s programme to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says its enrichment activities are for civilian purposes only.

    But Trump’s claim appeared to be contradicted by an initial report by one of his administration’s intelligence agencies, according to three people familiar with the matter.

    One of the sources said Iran’s enriched uranium stocks had not been eliminated, and the country’s nuclear programme, much of which is buried deep underground, may have been set back only a month or two.

    The White House said the intelligence assessment was “flat out wrong.”

    According to the report, which was produced by the Defense Intelligence Agency, the strikes sealed off the entrances to two of the facilities, but did not collapse underground buildings, said one of the people familiar with its findings.

    Some centrifuges remained intact, the Washington Post said, citing an unnamed person familiar with the report.

    Trump’s administration told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday that its weekend strikes had “degraded” Iran’s nuclear programme, short of Trump’s assertion that the facilities had been “obliterated.”

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the attack had removed the nuclear threat against Israel and he was determined to thwart any attempt by Tehran to revive its weapons program.

    “We have removed two immediate existential threats to us: the threat of nuclear annihilation and the threat of annihilation by 20,000 ballistic missiles,” he said.

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country had successfully ended the war in what he called a “great victory,” according to Iranian media.

    Pezeshkian also told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that Tehran was ready to resolve differences with the U.S., according to official news agency IRNA.

    Israel launched the surprise air war on June 13, attacking Iranian nuclear facilities and killing top military commanders in the worst blow to the Islamic Republic since the 1980s war with Iraq.

    Iran, which denies trying to build nuclear weapons, retaliated with barrages of missiles on Israeli military sites and cities.

    RESTRICTIONS LIFTED

    Israel’s military lifted restrictions on activity across the country at 8 p.m. local time (1700 GMT) on Tuesday, and officials said Ben Gurion Airport, the country’s main airport near Tel Aviv, had reopened. Iran’s airspace likewise will be reopened, state-affiliated Nournews reported.

    Oil prices edged higher on Wednesday, finding some respite after plummeting in the last two sessions, as investors assessed the stability of the ceasefire and the diminished prospect of an Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

    The truce appeared fragile: Both Israel and Iran took hours to acknowledge they had accepted the ceasefire and accused each other of violating it.

    Trump scolded both sides but aimed especially stinging criticism at Israel, telling the close U.S. ally to “calm down now.” He later said Israel called off further attacks at his command.

    Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said he told his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, that his country would respect the ceasefire unless Iran violated it. Pezeshkian likewise said Iran would honour the ceasefire as long as Israel did, according to Iranian media.

    Israeli armed forces chief of staff Eyal Zamir said a “significant chapter” of the conflict had concluded but the campaign against Iran was not over. He said the military would refocus on its war against Iran-backed Hamas militants in Gaza.

    Iranian authorities said 610 people were killed in their country by Israeli strikes and 4,746 injured. Iran’s retaliatory bombardment killed 28 people in Israel, the first time its air defences were penetrated by large numbers of Iranian missiles.

    (Reuters)

  • ISRO to conduct key space experiments through Axiom-4 mission

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is set to conduct major research during its mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The Ax-4, a landmark private spaceflight to the ISS, will launch on Wednesday from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.

    The research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the US, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe.

    This will be the most research and science-related activities conducted on an Axiom Space mission aboard the International Space Station to date.

    NASA and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) are collaborating to launch several scientific investigations.

    These studies include examining muscle regeneration, growth of sprouts and edible microalgae, survival of tiny aquatic organisms, and human interaction with electronic displays in microgravity.

    ISRO’s experiments include the following:

    Crop Seeds on ISS

    This ISRO experiment will investigate the impacts of spaceflight on six varieties of crop seeds. After the mission, seeds will be grown for multiple generations and plants showing preferred traits selected for genetic analyses. This project aims to help understand how crops may be grown in space for future exploration missions.

    Cyanobacteria on ISS

    Cyanobacteria are aquatic bacteria that can photosynthesize, and are of interest for integration into spacecraft environmental control systems. This ISRO experiment will compare two strains of cyanobacteria to investigate growth rates, cellular responses, and biochemical activity in microgravity. The results could help with the development of future spacecraft life support systems.

    Sprouts

    This ISRO experiment will investigate the impacts of spaceflight on germination and growth of crop seeds. After the mission, seeds will be grown for multiple generations and the effects on genetics, microbial load, and nutritional profile investigated. This project aims to help understand how crops may be grown in space for future exploration missions.

    Space Microalgae

    Microalgae are potentially useful organisms for future spaceflight that could be used as foods, fuel, or even used in life support systems. In this experiment, three strains of microalgae will be grown and the impact of microgravity on the growth, metabolism, and genetic activity will be investigated versus algae grown on the ground.

    Myogenesis

    This project aims to identify the pathways responsible for skeletal muscle dysfunction in microgravity and explore therapeutic targeting strategies. By studying how muscle loss occurs in space, the project seeks to pinpoint specific molecular mechanisms and potential interventions. Understanding these pathways is crucial for developing treatments to prevent muscle atrophy in astronauts during long space missions. On Earth, the findings could also impact the understanding of and treatments for muscle-related diseases and conditions related to aging or prolonged immobility.

    Voyager Displays

    This experiment will investigate how the physical and cognitive impact of utilizing computer screens in microgravity. The research will study how pointing tasks, gaze fixation, and rapid eye movements are affected my being performed in space, and how this may interact with subjective experiences of stress wellbeing. The results could inform future spacecraft computer design and interaction.

    STEMonstrations

    These will consist of four different STEAM outreach activities for Indian students. STEAM stands for Science and Technology, which is interpreted through Engineering and Arts and is based on mathematics.

    Voyager Tardigrades

    This ISRO project will investigate the revival, survival, and reproduction of tardigrades sent to the ISS. The project will examine the revival of dormant tardigrades, count the number of eggs laid and hatched during a mission, and compare the gene expression patterns of space flown vs. ground control populations. The research seeks to identify molecular mechanisms of resilience which has implications for understanding the limits of life in extreme environments. This knowledge could inform future space exploration and help develop biotechnology applications on Earth.

    The Axiom-4 mission also sets the tone for ISRO’s own Gaganyaan Mission, a project to send a 3-day manned mission to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) of 400 km with a crew of three members and bring them safely back to Earth.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • ISRO to conduct key space experiments through Axiom-4 mission

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is set to conduct major research during its mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The Ax-4, a landmark private spaceflight to the ISS, will launch on Wednesday from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.

    The research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the US, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe.

    This will be the most research and science-related activities conducted on an Axiom Space mission aboard the International Space Station to date.

    NASA and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) are collaborating to launch several scientific investigations.

    These studies include examining muscle regeneration, growth of sprouts and edible microalgae, survival of tiny aquatic organisms, and human interaction with electronic displays in microgravity.

    ISRO’s experiments include the following:

    Crop Seeds on ISS

    This ISRO experiment will investigate the impacts of spaceflight on six varieties of crop seeds. After the mission, seeds will be grown for multiple generations and plants showing preferred traits selected for genetic analyses. This project aims to help understand how crops may be grown in space for future exploration missions.

    Cyanobacteria on ISS

    Cyanobacteria are aquatic bacteria that can photosynthesize, and are of interest for integration into spacecraft environmental control systems. This ISRO experiment will compare two strains of cyanobacteria to investigate growth rates, cellular responses, and biochemical activity in microgravity. The results could help with the development of future spacecraft life support systems.

    Sprouts

    This ISRO experiment will investigate the impacts of spaceflight on germination and growth of crop seeds. After the mission, seeds will be grown for multiple generations and the effects on genetics, microbial load, and nutritional profile investigated. This project aims to help understand how crops may be grown in space for future exploration missions.

    Space Microalgae

    Microalgae are potentially useful organisms for future spaceflight that could be used as foods, fuel, or even used in life support systems. In this experiment, three strains of microalgae will be grown and the impact of microgravity on the growth, metabolism, and genetic activity will be investigated versus algae grown on the ground.

    Myogenesis

    This project aims to identify the pathways responsible for skeletal muscle dysfunction in microgravity and explore therapeutic targeting strategies. By studying how muscle loss occurs in space, the project seeks to pinpoint specific molecular mechanisms and potential interventions. Understanding these pathways is crucial for developing treatments to prevent muscle atrophy in astronauts during long space missions. On Earth, the findings could also impact the understanding of and treatments for muscle-related diseases and conditions related to aging or prolonged immobility.

    Voyager Displays

    This experiment will investigate how the physical and cognitive impact of utilizing computer screens in microgravity. The research will study how pointing tasks, gaze fixation, and rapid eye movements are affected my being performed in space, and how this may interact with subjective experiences of stress wellbeing. The results could inform future spacecraft computer design and interaction.

    STEMonstrations

    These will consist of four different STEAM outreach activities for Indian students. STEAM stands for Science and Technology, which is interpreted through Engineering and Arts and is based on mathematics.

    Voyager Tardigrades

    This ISRO project will investigate the revival, survival, and reproduction of tardigrades sent to the ISS. The project will examine the revival of dormant tardigrades, count the number of eggs laid and hatched during a mission, and compare the gene expression patterns of space flown vs. ground control populations. The research seeks to identify molecular mechanisms of resilience which has implications for understanding the limits of life in extreme environments. This knowledge could inform future space exploration and help develop biotechnology applications on Earth.

    The Axiom-4 mission also sets the tone for ISRO’s own Gaganyaan Mission, a project to send a 3-day manned mission to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) of 400 km with a crew of three members and bring them safely back to Earth.

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: On mos.ru you can set up autopayment for convenient payment of travel on toll roads

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In service “My payments” The mos.ru portal now offers the option to set up an automatic payment for travel on toll roads. This was reported by the capital’s Department of Information Technology (DIT).

    If previously car owners had to track and pay each invoice issued, now it is enough to connect autopayment, and the required amount will be debited from the bank card linked to the service automatically. This is especially convenient for those who regularly drive alongMoscow High-Speed Diameter (MSD), the M-12 “Vostok” highway, the Central Ring Road (CRR), Bagration Avenue andWestern High Speed Diameter in Saint Petersburg.

    “We continue to develop the functionality of the My Payments service to make it even more convenient for residents of the capital to pay for services on the mos.ru portal without going to other resources. Over the past 2.5 years, payment for travel on Bagration Avenue, the Moscow Highway, M-12 Vostok, the Central Ring Road and the Western High-Speed Diameter in St. Petersburg has become available here. Now users have the opportunity to connect autopayment to pay for travel on these highways. It is enough to select and configure the appropriate parameters so that new bills are paid automatically and on time,” said Vladimir Novikov, Director of the Department for Support of Citywide Payment Systems of the Moscow Department of Information Technology.

    The ability to connect automatic payments is one of the most popular functions among users of the My Payments service on the mos.ru portal. City residents have used automatic payment of bills more than 1.6 million times. This saves time and allows you not to worry about payment deadlines. All connected automatic payments are displayed in the section of the service with the same name. If necessary, you can edit their parameters or delete them here.

    Automatic payment for the issued invoice

    To make sure that payment for travel on toll road sections takes a minimum of time and is done automatically, you can set up automatic payment immediately after the first payment in the service on mos.ruto the invoice issued. To do this, in the “Connecting Auto Payment” window, you need to specify the maximum amount of one invoice and the amount of write-offs per month. Auto payment will occur automatically after the road operator issues an invoice.

    Autopayment on schedule

    Car owners using transponders can now set up automatic paymentsschedule. This is convenient for advance payment of travel. After the first payment is made, in the “Auto payment connection” window, it is enough to specify the amount and frequency with which funds will be debited from the account. At the moment, this opportunity is available to motorists who have installed transponders of two toll road operators – JSC “New Quality of Roads” AndUnited Toll Collection Systems LLC. Through the mos.ru portal, you can top up your transponder account to pay for travel on any Russian toll road.

    The transponder account number is automatically displayed in the My Payments service on mos.ru if the user has specified the same phone number in their profile and in the contract with the toll road operator. If the numbers do not match, you can add the transponder yourself. To do this, in the Documents and Data section, simply select the Transport tab, the Add transponder option and fill out the form. The service will automatically generate a template with the current balance and the recommended amount to top up the transponder account. If several devices from different road operators are used, each of them will have its own template.

    Automatic search for travel invoices

    In order to make the payment for travel on toll road sections take a minimum of time, you must first indicate the state registration number of the car, as well as the series and number of the vehicle registration certificate in your personal account on the mos.ru portal. Then, after driving on the highway, the bill will automatically appear in the My Payments service. You can also set up a subscription to receive notifications aboutnew accountsTo do this, you will need to tick the convenient form of receiving messages in your profile – by email or via push notifications.

    If there is not enough information in your personal account to automatically search for invoices, you can use the “Vehicle Certificate” widget. In the pop-up window that opens, simply enter the vehicle details, and the widget will show all unpaid invoices, and you will be asked to save the entered information in your profile so that you do not have to re-enter it in the future.

    You can find out more about all the options for paying toll road bills in the My Payments service ininstructions.

    The My Payments service on the mos.ru portal and in the Moscow State Services and My Moscow mobile applications is one of the most popular methods of paying bills among residents of the capital. It can be used to pay for about nine thousand municipal, federal and commercial services. Over the seven and a half years of the service’s operation, city residents have already paid more than 116 million bills.

    The service automatically finds all unpaid bills if the user has a standard or full account and the necessary information is specified in the personal account. To save time, you can connect autopayment or create a template here. This will allow you to avoid filling in the details in the future. If necessary, it is possible to pay several bills at once. More information about all the features of the My Payments service is ininstructions.

    You can learn more about how Moscow’s electronic services developed and how just 30 years ago, in order to pay bills, you had to visit up to five different departments from the film “Moscow in Digital”.

    The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant services, as well as other services in electronic form, corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Traffic in the center of the capital will be restricted due to the graduation ball

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Traffic in the center of Moscow will be restricted from 08:00 on June 28 to 07:00 on June 29 due to the All-Russian graduation ball.

    It will be impossible to drive along Ilyinka Street from Staraya to Red Square and from Ilyinka Street to Varvarka in the area of house 5 on Red Square.

    On June 28, the far right lane on the section of Mokhovaya Street from building 1 to building 11, building 1 will also be closed to motorists from 15:00 to 19:30.

    In addition, on June 28 from 00:01 until the end of the event, parking will be prohibited on the section of Ilyinka Street from Novaya to Krasnaya Square.

    Drivers are advised to take the changes into account and plan their route in advance. Detailed information can be found on the website Traffic Management Center.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Moscow Model Pavilion has prepared a program for Youth Day

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In anticipation of Youth Day, the exhibition pavilion “Moscow Model” at VDNKh has prepared a special festive program. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Urban Development Policy Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    On June 27, visitors can enjoy tours of the architectural model of the city, lighting shows that clearly demonstrate the development of the capital, as well as interactive quizzes with the opportunity to win prizes.

    “This Friday we have prepared a rich program that will be interesting and informative for both the younger generation and for everyone who loves our city. During the day, the pavilion’s guests will be treated to fascinating sightseeing tours of the miniature model of the capital, which will take place at 12:10, 14:10, 16:10 and 18:10. The guides will tell you about the history of the model’s creation, the unique technologies of its production and the most interesting architectural sites of the capital,” said Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    During the excursions, guests will visually study the radial-ring structure of the capital and learn why Moscow is a city on seven hills. Participants of the interactive quizzes, which will be held at 12:40, 14:40, 16:40 and 18:40, will have to answer 10 questions of varying difficulty about Moscow. Prizes await everyone who successfully completes the tasks.

    Lighting shows will be broadcast every half hour from 11:00 to 19:30. These unique shows, created using modern technologies, will tell about the architectural features of Moscow and show it from an unusual angle.

    The Moscow Model Pavilion is a unique modern venue. Guests have the opportunity to study in detail the models of more than 23 thousand buildings and structures of the capital, reduced by 400 times. Another distinctive feature of the model is its interactivity: anyone can independently control the lighting of a separate building, district, street or the entire model, change daylight to night lighting and even illuminate a rainbow and clouds.

    The Moscow Model pavilion can be visited free of charge from 10:00 to 20:00 daily, except Mondays.

    You can find detailed information, view the schedule of light shows, and sign up for excursions at website or through the mobile application “Moscow Layout”.

    Moscow is a city of youth: how student brigades help to realize oneself

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channelthe city of Moscow.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Names on the Map of Moscow: The Ryadom Project Tells the Fates of the Heroes of the Great Patriotic War

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Moscow is implementing an educational project called “Nearby” dedicated to the people after whom the capital’s streets were named. It allows us to look at the city in a different way, and also helps preserve historical memory and remind us that real destinies lie behind familiar names.

    As part of the project, posters will be placed on 80 streets in Moscow. They will tell about the participants of the Great Patriotic War, whose names were immortalized in the city’s toponymy. Information materials can be seen at public transport stops, newsstands and classic billboards.

    Each of the 80 streets is named after one of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Thus, billboards dedicated to Georgy Zhukov, a commander who played a key role in the war, appeared on Marshal Zhukov Avenue. It was he who signed the act of unconditional surrender of Germany and hosted the Victory Parade on Red Square on June 24, 1945.

    Similar posters have already been placed on several other streets, for example, on Letchitsa Tarasova, Pokryshkina and Artamonova streets.

    The initiative is being carried out with the assistance of the capital’s Department of Mass Media and Advertising together with the All-Russian public-state movement of children and youth “Movement of the First”.

    Moscow remembers and honors the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Almost every district has streets named after our fathers and grandfathers who fought the Nazis. 164 streets, avenues, squares and lanes of the capital are named after the defenders of the Motherland. The city is a living memory of them. All these places can be easily found on the project website “Living Memory”.

    “City of Quests” will share stories of heroes after whom streets are named

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Neural networks, lie markers and superbugs: what the participants of the project “At the center of science” are doing

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Teaching a neural network to answer a thousand questions, researching superbugs, determining a person’s chronotype using a DNA test, and recognizing lies using speech markers—this and much more was done by Moscow schoolchildren who participated in the project “In the center of science”. Based at the capital’s universities and leading research clusters, high school students, under the guidance of experts, implemented ideas in the fields of biology, ecology, chemistry, physics and linguistics, conducted experiments, and then presented their results at conferences.

    We tell you how the project helps students take their first steps in science, feel like real researchers, and decide on their future profession.

    Diving into Science

    The project “In the Center of Science” opened last year. More than 15 thousand people took part in it: over 10 thousand high school students, as well as teachers and young scientists. The project, which united the efforts of schools, universities and scientific centers, provided Moscow students with the opportunity to engage in research activities based on modern laboratories and testing grounds, consult with the best mentors, develop their own projects and defend them before the expert community.

    For several months, schoolchildren attended specialized clubs, festivals, lectures, master classes, and scientific and experimental courses. They mastered advanced research methods such as microscopy, electrophoresis, 3D printing, data collection and analysis, and modeling of physical and biological processes. Young chemists studied the rate of metal corrosion and prepared a protective solution, physicists created bionic prostheses on a 3D printer, biologists performed DNA sequencing, and ecologists developed ideas for preserving the environment. Professional hackathons were organized for teachers, and meetings of the Young Scientists Club were organized for aspiring researchers.

    The schoolchildren presented their projects at internal conferences and city events. And the capital’s scientists told about cutting-edge discoveries in Moscow Palace of Pioneers, where three large lectures, a large-scale festival of natural sciences and the Moscow Science Festival were held in February.

    How words reveal deception

    Eleventh-grader Alexandra Gatilova from School No. 1238participated in scientific and experimental courses in linguistics. She conducted a study dedicated to identifying lie markers in oral speech. Together with her team, the schoolgirl modeled a situation, interviewed dozens of respondents, analyzed the data and presented the results in the form of diagrams.

    “The linguistics courses were held at the Higher School of Economics. For two months, we studied theory and conducted research. Each group had its own topic; ours was working on a project to identify markers of lying in oral monologue speech. The goal was to find out whether it is possible to understand when a person is lying based on certain words. To do this, one part of the respondents was asked to imagine that they were late for a meeting with a friend because the bus did not arrive on time. And the other part was asked to lie that the reason for being late was a delayed bus. Then we deciphered the monologues using a special application and loaded the results into a table, highlighting the matches,” says Alexandra Gatilova.

    While working on the project, the schoolchildren discovered the following patterns: truthful respondents more often used polite expressions and words with a softened negative meaning than those who lied. For example, they said about the bus that it was delayed, not late.

    “We managed to detect lie markers in 70 percent of respondents. We presented the research results, presented in graphs and tables, at a scientific conference. This development can be used in forensics, training psychologists, for analyzing texts using artificial intelligence in various Telegram channels. We plan to continue working on the project in the next academic year,” says the schoolgirl.

    Alexandra Gatilova is also making progress in learning English and Chinese. In the future, the girl wants to become a linguist and teacher.

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    The neural network will answer the questions

    Participant of the conference “Engineers of the Future” and winner of the Moscow Pre-professional Physics Olympiad Lev Lezhenev from School No. 1434— the author of a project based on artificial intelligence for a large retail chain. Together with his team, the tenth-grader created a website that optimizes the work of the retail employee support service.

    “Together with other participants in the project dedicated to artificial intelligence, I spent a week developing a program that would answer questions. After a theoretical course conducted by students from leading Moscow universities, we created an Internet service and built into it a neural network with a database of ready-made answers. In the format of text messages, the company’s employees could find out how many times a month their salary is accrued, how to receive maternity benefits and other important information. In total, the database included answers to about a thousand questions,” says Lev Lezhenev.

    Before presenting the finished project at the conference, the schoolchildren made the necessary economic calculations. For the development, the children received an award from the customer company.

    “Theoretically, such a model can be implemented at any enterprise. In the future, we want to continue working on the project and create a server that will allow us to enter a wide variety of data. I consider the “In the Center of Science” program to be very useful: it gives the opportunity to expand and deepen school knowledge, applying it in practice. In the future, I want to become a programmer, and this experience is very important to me,” the high school student shares.

    Sergei Sobyanin: 103 students from creative schools and colleges became grant winnersMoscow students win record number of awards at All-Russian School Olympiad

    Owl or lark

    The students worked in modern laboratories, collected and analyzed data, and modeled physical and biological processes. Ninth-grader Anastasia Levchenko from School No. 947participated in scientific and experimental courses on chemistry and biotechnology. She studied how the structure of DNA is related to a person’s biological predisposition to a particular chronotype (sleep and wakefulness regime).

    “The two-month courses were held at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology. The participants in the experiment were schoolchildren from our and neighboring streams and teachers. After they answered questions about their daily routine, we took a scraping of their buccal epithelium – cells from the inside of the cheek. Then, using an amplifier (a device for conducting a polymerase chain reaction), we isolated DNA from these cells. The nucleotide chains were examined under ultraviolet light and the results were compared with the information from the questionnaires. A thin strip of a pair of nucleotides corresponds to the lark chronotype, a thick one – an owl, and two stripes indicate that their owner belongs to the mixed chronotype of a pigeon. The results coincided with the answers of the study participants by 95 percent. Such tests will help people plan their routine taking into account biological characteristics,” explains Anastasia Levchenko.

    The schoolgirl also extracted essential oils and hydrolates (water solutions) from tangerine peel, mint and dried rose petals, and determined the content of chlorophyll and other pigments in different parts of plants. Earlier, she became a prize winner of the municipal stage of the All-Russian School Olympiad in Ecology.

    “In the new academic year, I plan to participate in the “At the Center of Science” project again, to do other research. This is a very good base for schoolchildren, there is an opportunity to work with advanced laboratory equipment under the guidance of specialists, to implement their ideas,” says Anastasia Levchenko, who has dreamed of connecting her life with medicine and becoming a surgeon since childhood.

    More than five thousand capital schoolchildren became winners and prize winners of scientific and practical conferencesSobyanin congratulated Moscow schoolchildren who won the Big Challenges competition

    Research superbugs

    How bacteria develop in kefir and how resistant they are to modern antibiotics was studied by ninth-grader Artem Reutsky from School No. 1558, winner of the Moscow School Olympiad in Biology and English.

    “During the scientific and experimental courses on biotechnology, we studied superbugs. This is the name given to microorganisms that have developed resistance to antibiotics during their development. First, we collected theoretical information, then we planted cultures to grow bacteria. The study was conducted on samples of kefir from different manufacturers – we added bacteria and a paper disk soaked in antibiotics to each, and then immersed the samples in a thermostat. After a week, colonies of superbugs resistant to drugs grew in some kefir samples,” says Artem Reutsky.

    The schoolchildren’s project confirmed the scientific hypothesis that antibiotic-resistant bacteria can develop in fermented milk products, so food technologists need to pay special attention to production. The students presented the results of their research in the form of diagrams at an internal scientific conference.

    “This was my first serious research. It’s great that there is an opportunity to work in a well-equipped laboratory, to gain practical experience. Now I want to get into the summer camp of the project “In the Center of Science”, and in the future – to become a virologist and create a vaccine against the human immunodeficiency virus,” the schoolboy shares.

    In the new academic year, the project will continue to expand: the number of courses and clubs will increase, new areas will appear, and the mentoring format will develop. Registration for the summer visiting scientific school is now open, and professional competitions, hackathons, and festivals await schoolchildren in the future. You can find out more and register at website.

    Quickly find out the main news of the capital in official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    In the Kingdom of Science: How Moscow Schoolchildren Win Medals at International OlympiadsSharpening Your Skills. Teachers on How Internships Work in Moscow CollegesSports, Patriotism and Strong Friendship: How Schoolchildren Spend the Summer at the Vasilevsky Tent Camp

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: For the 80th anniversary of the Victory, the Moscow City Heritage Department told about the fate of historical buildings during the war

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Department of Cultural Heritage of the City of Moscow presented an updated series of audio podcasts “Voices of Moscow Buildings”, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. This year, the series is dedicated to heroic monuments – historical buildings of the capital, which not only survived the war, but also became its participants. A total of six audio stories will be released.

    “The audio podcast series “Voices of Moscow Buildings” that started last year was loved by listeners, and we decided to continue it this year, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Great Victory. This time, we are telling about the most dramatic moments in the history of the capital’s iconic architectural landmarks in six audio stories. We are talking about heroic monuments – and this is by no means a metaphor. Many Moscow buildings – cultural heritage sites – were full-fledged participants in military events,” said the head of the Department of Cultural Heritage

    Alexey Emelyanov.

    The podcast “Miracles of Camouflage. How Theater Artists and Artists Deceived the Enemy During the War Years” is about the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army on Suvorov Square. The theater was built in 1940 according to the design of architect Karo Alabyan. The building, designed in the shape of a five-pointed star, attracted attention and needed camouflage. To do this, theater artists developed special visual techniques that hid its outlines from enemy aircraft.

    The Novokuznetskaya metro station also became an important site during the war. Its design was developed by architects Nadezhda Bykova and Ivan Taranov before the start of hostilities. During air raids, the station served as a refuge for residents of Zamoskvorechye. After the start of the war, the station’s design was revised: elements dedicated to the frontline theme appeared in the decor – triumphal cartouches, a frieze with scenes of military life, mosaics. The station became one of the first memorial architectural complexes to immortalize the feat of the defenders of the Motherland.

    The podcast “Art in Shelter. How Guardian Angels Managed to Hide National Heritage from Bombs” tells the story of the State Tretyakov Gallery building during the Great Patriotic War. The building with a neo-Russian style façade designed by Viktor Vasnetsov became a symbol of the museum community’s resilience. The episode reveals details of how, under the constant threat of bombing, gallery employees ensured the safety of the collection and saved works of Russian painting.

    The history of the Krasny Oktyabr confectionery factory was also included in the podcast series. In 1941, its buildings were hit by enemy airstrikes. Since the beginning of the war, more than 500 employees have gone to the front. Those who remained — mostly women and teenagers — continued to produce products: briquetted cereals and Frontovye candies, which were sent to soldiers as a sign of support and a reminder of home.

    A special place in the cycle is occupied by the story of the Epiphany Cathedral in Yelokhovo (Yelokhov Cathedral), where Alexander Pushkin was baptized in 1799. Even in 1941, despite military actions, the cathedral was not closed. The temple became a spiritual refuge for the townspeople. It was here that Metropolitan Sergius of Moscow (later Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’) addressed the believers with a blessing to defend the Fatherland. Donations collected by parishioners helped form the tank column “Dmitry Donskoy” and the air squadron “Alexander Nevsky”.

    Another episode is dedicated to the Vorontsovo estate, which at the beginning of the war was located on the outskirts of Moscow and fell into the city’s defense zone. Defensive structures were built on its territory, including anti-tank ditches and long-term fire points (pillboxes). One of these pillboxes has survived to this day and is located at the intersection of Obrucheva and Profsoyuznaya streets.

    The podcast series “Voices of Moscow Buildings” will be hosted on a special platform, from where episodes will be automatically distributed to all major streaming services.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Five buildings with cinemas have been renovated in Moscow

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Moscow’s infrastructure is diverse, each district has everything necessary for life and leisure. Residential buildings house various organizations – from shops and pharmacies to libraries.

    Residential buildings deserve special attention, during the construction of which architects and engineers provided special space for cinemas. In Soviet times, they were most often located on the ground floors of buildings. This approach made it possible to bring cinemas closer to city residents and create cultural centers in residential areas. They can be found especially often in buildings erected in the neoclassical style. During the implementation of the capital’s capital repair program, specialists from the Moscow City Services Complex put five buildings with cinemas in order.

    Over the past 10 years, 53 buildings with Soviet symbols on their facades have been overhauled in the capital

    Bas-reliefs, pilasters and keystones on Kostyakov Street

    The residential building on Kostyakov Street (building 10), which houses the operating Iskra cinema, was built in 1939 according to an individual project in the style of Soviet neoclassicism. The house, which has a complex plan, is a striking example of pre-war Soviet architecture. You can enter the courtyard from the side or through the central arch. The three lower floors are rusticated, the upper ones are decorated with pilasters and bas-reliefs, some of the window spaces are emphasized by architraves and keystones. On the main facade, at the level of the third to fifth floors, there are decorative porticoes. Between the fifth and sixth floors, there is a wide multi-profile cornice. The courtyard facades are made in a more laconic style with standard windows. The stained glass windows of the stairwells are decorated with multi-level portals. Along the perimeter of the house, there is a massive crowning cornice with dentils.

    In 2023, specialists renovated the facade of the house, carefully preserving the decorative elements. The main task that they faced was to update the structure, as well as restore the stucco decor and architectural elements of the building. First, the craftsmen cleaned and washed the surfaces. Then they sealed the cracks with a special construction compound and treated the wet areas with an antifungal and strengthening agent. At the next stage, they put in order the plaster layer, the rustication of the lower floors and restored the architectural elements using modern technologies. After that, the facade was painted, preserving the historical color scheme for the decorative elements in the colors “peanut cream” and “brown champignon”.

    Much attention was paid to the balconies: specialists restored the slabs and laid new flooring. In addition, they cleaned and painted not only the walls, but also the base, external window and door slopes, replaced the ebbs and drainpipes, and tidied up the entrance groups.

    Sandriks, capitals and columns on Kutuzovsky Prospect

    The residential building on Kutuzovsky Prospekt (building 30) was built in 1953 according to an individual project. In the 1950s, it housed a two-hall cinema famous throughout the Dorogomilovo district. Each hall had 100 seats. This house with a colonnade on the upper tier, a balustrade and pinnacles is a striking example of late Soviet neoclassicism. The building consists of several volumes of different numbers of storeys – from seven to 11 storeys. Due to the configuration of the house, an internal courtyard is formed in the plan. In the corner parts of the facade, through arched passages are located in pairs, highlighted by framing and niches. The street facades are faced with ceramic blocks and painted, have complex plasticity: decorated with cornices, pilasters with bas-reliefs, architraves, flower beds and portals of entrance groups.

    In 2024, the building underwent major repairs. The facade and roof of the building were completely repaired, and a number of engineering systems were replaced. In order to return the large neoclassical building to its original beauty, specialists from the Capital Repairs Fund developed a special project, selected the appropriate modern technologies and materials.

    Work on the facade began with clearing and washing the exposed surfaces, as well as pointing the seams. Antifungal protection was applied to the surfaces in wet areas. All architectural elements that required additional fragmentation and restoration of lost parts were carefully restored by the craftsmen. These included cornices, pilasters with bas-reliefs and pinnacles at the top of the building. Specialists paid special attention to the colonnades located on the upper tier at the corners of the house. The facade and other external surfaces from the inside of the house were painted according to the color scheme in the color “light yellow wheat”. Decorative elements such as sandriks, capitals, bases of columns and pilasters were updated – they acquired a gray-beige color.

    The specialists restored the balconies, including the balcony slabs with caissons, and installed new screens. In addition, they repaired the flower beds on the facade and put the entrance groups in order. They also updated the base of the building. The roof was repaired – the roofing was replaced, the rafter system was put in order. The attic spaces were insulated with mineral wool slabs, which have high thermal insulation, all wooden structures were treated with a fire-retardant composition. The drainage lines were also replaced.

    Columns, interfloor belts and architraves on Marshal Rybalko Street

    This year, work on transforming residential buildings continues. Currently, specialists from the capital repair fund are putting in order a residential building on Marshal Rybalko Street (building 1), which houses the operating chamber cinema “Yunost” with two halls.

    The five-story apartment building was built in 1955 according to a standard series project; its plan is L-shaped. The facades, made of brick, have simple plasticity with decorative elements. There is a crowning cornice along the perimeter of the building. The three lower floors are separated from the upper part by interfloor belts. The main facades are decorated with architraves and bas-reliefs. On the courtyard facades, the entrance groups are separated by vestibules.

    Specialists have already started work on renovating the facade, basement and roof of the building. They first cleared the open surfaces of the facade and renovated the brickwork. Wet areas were treated with antifungal compounds. Later, the facade will be hydrophobized – covered with an invisible film that will protect it from the effects of precipitation for many years.

    The craftsmen are treating the wooden structures with a fire-bioprotective compound. They are also laying a new electrical network, central heating and water drainage lines. Work is planned on the cold water supply risers, water drainage and central heating. The cold water supply lines have already been replaced.

    The specialists will also put in order the decorative elements on the building: fluted columns, interfloor belts, architraves and the crowning cornice. According to the color scheme, these elements will be in the shade of “brick red”. They will repair the entrance groups, the base and the blind area, and install doors. In addition, they will replace the ebbs and renew the slopes, hang a new external drainage system. They will also replace the sheathing and roof covering of the pitched roof and establish the temperature and humidity conditions in the attic spaces.

    The Moscow City Services Complex noted that the regional housing stock capital repairs program being implemented in the capital is in line with the goals and objectives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: 291 outpatient clinic buildings have been reconstructed in Moscow

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In the capital, 291 polyclinic buildings have been reconstructed according to a single Moscow standard.

    More than eight million patients are already receiving medical care in the renovated institutions, the press service reported. Moscow City Health Department.

    “The capital continues a large-scale renovation of the outpatient sector. There are already 291 polyclinic buildings operating under the new standard — they have become lighter, more spacious and more convenient for patients. In total, since the opening of the renovated buildings, doctors have conducted over 140 million appointments. More than eight million residents of the capital receive medical care in them, and this figure continues to grow. This indicates the high level of trust Muscovites have in the reconstruction program under the new standard. We are doing everything to ensure that the entire outpatient fund of Moscow meets modern requirements: is comfortable and technologically advanced,” the press service of the capital’s Department of Healthcare reported.

    During the modernization of polyclinics, the equipment of laboratories, ophthalmology and physiotherapy rooms is updated, equipment for ENT, endoscopy and general therapy is installed. In addition, the buildings are equipped with electronic queue screens, air disinfection systems, refrigerators for storing drugs and other necessary devices.

    “During major repairs, we also provide medical institutions with power supply according to the second reliability category. This means that in the event of a technological failure on one line, the voltage will be automatically supplied through the backup line. In addition to modernizing the buildings themselves, we also improve the adjacent territories: we separate pedestrian and transport flows, where possible, we create places for short-term rest, update the lighting system, install new or replace old fences, and adapt the spaces to the needs of people with disabilities. In addition, we install navigation elements. We additionally green the territory with hypoallergenic plants,” the press service noted.

    Department of Capital Repairs of the City of Moscow.

    The branches of the polyclinics have mammographs, X-ray machines, ultrasound machines, and functional diagnostics equipment. The main buildings are additionally equipped with bicycle ergometry machines, MRI, CT, expert-class ultrasound machines, densitometers (devices for examining bone tissue), and endoscopic equipment.

    The premises are zoned in such a way as to reduce the likelihood of queues and make the wait for an appointment as comfortable as possible. The most popular offices are located on the lower floors, while less visited and administrative ones are on the upper floors. Patients are provided with comfortable waiting areas with air conditioners, coolers with drinking water, TVs and soft sofas. And for employees, there are rest rooms and psychological relief rooms, modern dressing rooms with showers and professional development rooms.

    The modernization of the outpatient sector in Moscow began in 2020. During the first stage of the program, more than 200 buildings were reconstructed. The second stage, which began in 2023, provides for the renovation of almost 140 clinics. The implementation of the program and the construction of new institutions will completely update the capital’s outpatient fund.

    Over 660 units of new heavy equipment delivered to renovated Moscow clinics

    The project is in line with the goals and objectives of the Moscow healthcare development strategy until 2030 and is aimed at improving the quality and accessibility of medical care for residents of the capital.

    Quickly find out the main news of the capital in official telegram channelthe city of Moscow.

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  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese premier urges constructive actions in global economic, trade cooperation

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

    TIANJIN, June 25 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday called on the international community to take constructive actions in international economic and trade cooperation.

    Li made the remarks when addressing the opening of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, in north China’s Tianjin Municipality.

    “Constructive actions mean we need to proactively take more practical measures to safeguard free trade and multilateralism and promote the stable development of the world economy,” Li said.

    The premier called for resolving disputes and differences through equal consultations.

    Noting that it is normal for disputes and differences to arise in economic and trade exchanges among countries, the premier said that as long as countries engage in dialogue and consultation based on mutual respect, solutions can always be found.

    The premier also stressed efforts to safeguard the common interests through mutually beneficial cooperation.

    Faced with global challenges, the premier said it is important to strengthen macro policy coordination among countries to ensure the stability of the global industrial and supply chains. He urged closer cooperation among all countries to strengthen the security and resilience of their development.

    Li further said that China will continue to deepen its integration and connectivity with the world market and strengthen industrial collaboration with various countries.

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  • MIL-OSI China: World’s economic, trade landscape undergoing profound change: Chinese premier

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

    TIANJIN, June 25 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Wednesday that the international economic and trade landscape is undergoing a profound change.

    Li made the remarks when addressing the opening plenary of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, in north China’s Tianjin Municipality.

    The global economic and trade system is becoming increasingly diverse, with the Global South rising rapidly, Li said, noting that while the growth of traditional trade is slowing down, emerging trade has grown against the odds.

    Apart from impact on global institutions and multiplying regional collaborations, the world is also experiencing volatile declines of cross-border investment and growing risks of fragmented production and supply chains, Li added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China willing to share original technologies, innovative scenarios globally: premier

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

    China willing to share original technologies, innovative scenarios globally: premier

    TIANJIN, June 25 — China is willing to share its original technologies and innovative scenarios with the world, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Wednesday.

    Li made the remarks when addressing the opening plenary of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, in north China’s Tianjin Municipality.

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  • MIL-OSI China: China vows open markets, better business environment: premier

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

    TIANJIN, June 25 — The Chinese government will continue to foster a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, and always keep the doors wide open and warmly welcome businesses from all countries to invest and deepen their roots in China, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Wednesday.

    Li made the remarks when addressing the opening plenary of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, in north China’s Tianjin Municipality.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Antoinette Lattouf’s unfair dismissal win shows ABC must be more courageous in defending its journalists

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denis Muller, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne

    Broadcast journalist Antoinette Lattouf was sacked by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for her political opinions concerning the war in Gaza, the Federal Court has found.

    Lattouf has been awarded $70,000 in damages for non-economic loss, based on findings that her sacking caused her what the judge called “great distress”.

    Justice Darryl Rangiah said this was obvious from her demeanour in the witness box. She had given evidence of feeling shock and humiliation at being sacked, and that this had affected her sleep and put strain on her personal relationships.

    However, the court found Lattouf’s race or ethnicity had played no part in the ABC’s decision to sack her, as she had claimed.

    The decision to sack her had been made by Chris Oliver-Taylor, who at the time was chief content officer of the ABC. His decision had been fortified by the views of the then managing director and editor-in-chief of the ABC, David Anderson, that Lattouf had expressed antisemitic opinions.

    The court found Oliver-Taylor was under pressure from many sources: the external complaints, Anderson’s view of the matter, and the wishes of the then chair Ita Buttrose to put an end to it.

    There was also a desire to appease the pro-Israel lobby, to defend the ABC’s reputation for impartiality, and to mitigate the impact of a story that he knew The Australian newspaper was about the publish on the issue.

    Oliver-Taylor has since resigned from the ABC.

    The case arose from events that occurred in December 2023.

    The ABC hired Lattouf, a journalist of Lebanese heritage, as a relief presenter on the mornings program of Sydney ABC Radio for one week leading up to Christmas. The mornings program consisted of light entertainment interspersed with hourly news bulletins. It did not otherwise offer news or current affairs content.

    Lattouf had worked for the ABC previously and was well-regarded inside the organisation. Her appointment was uncontroversial among those involved in making it, and she started work on Monday December 18.

    Before this stint began, Lattouf had made a series of personal social media posts accusing Israeli soldiers of using rape as a weapon of war. Then, early in the week she was on air, she posted on her personal social media profile a report by Human Rights Watch alleging Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza. A few days earlier, the ABC had also posted this report on its own website.

    Like the ABC, Lattouf posted it without comment.

    However, an orchestrated campaign by the Jewish lobby to have her taken off air had already begun, on the basis of what she had previously published on her private social media account, and Justice Rangiah observed that this had caused consternation among senior ABC management.

    This consternation turned to panic after the posting of the Human Rights Watch report, and the campaign intensified. A coordinated email campaign by a pro-Israel lobbying group called “Lawyers for Israel”, and another group called “J.E.W.I.S.H creatives and academics”, demanded Lattouf be sacked, threatening legal action if she was not.

    Messages from a WhatsApp group leaked to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age showed that in this way, the campaigners put intense pressure on the ABC’s most senior officers at the time, Anderson and Buttrose.

    On December 20, Lattouf was told when she came off air she would not be required for the final two days of her engagement. The Fair Work Commission subsequently found this amounted to sacking her. She then sued the ABC in the Federal Court for unlawful termination, alleging she had been dismissed because of her race and political views.

    When the matter came before the Federal Court in February 2025, the ABC argued she had been dismissed not because of her race or political views but because she had disobeyed a lawful instruction not to post anything “controversial” on social media while working for the ABC.

    The ABC alleged her act of disobedience was the posting of the Human Rights Watch report. In the course of the proceedings, emails between Anderson and Buttrose were admitted into evidence. They showed Buttrose telling Anderson she was “over” getting these complaints about Lattouf, and asking “can’t she come down with flu or COVID or a stomach upset? We owe her nothing.”

    Giving evidence during the court hearing, Buttrose said she had proposed this as a face-saving device for Lattouf’s benefit.

    In making a formal determination that Lattouf had been terminated, Justice Rangiah dismissed the ABC’s argument that she had simply been told there would be no work for her on the final two days of her contracted period of employment.

    He also found Lattouf had not been instructed not to post on her social media account but had merely been told she would be ill-advised to publish anything “controversial” while on air.

    In dismissing Lattouf for her political opinions, the ABC breached section 772 of the Fair Work Act, and by depriving her of an opportunity to defend herself before dismissing her it also breached the ABC’s enterprise bargaining agreement.

    The question of whether the ABC should suffer a financial penalty for these breaches will be decided at a later date.

    It was evident throughout the proceedings that the ABC had been concerned not just to put an end to the complaints about Lattouf but to protect the organisation’s reputation for impartiality.

    In the event, the way the case was handled has done substantial damage to the ABC’s reputation, not just for impartiality but for its capacity to stand up for its journalists and presenters when they come under external attack.



    Read more:
    Antoinette Lattouf sacking shows how the ABC has been damaged by successive Coalition governments

    Lattouf is one of several journalists whom the ABC has failed to defend from attacks by politicians, pressure groups and News Corporation. The latter’s flagship newspaper, The Australian, has conducted virulent campaigns against ABC journalists, most notably Stan Grant, as well as Lattouf and others.

    The managerial consternation and panic observed by Justice Rangiah in Lattouf’s case were discernible also in the Grant case and in the way the ABC handled the controversy over star journalist Laura Tingle’s observation at a writer’s festival that Australia was a racist country.

    This is a cultural weakness in the ABC. Its editorial leadership seems not to understand that the first duty of an editor is to create a safe space in which their staff can do good journalism.

    It is a malaise that goes back at least as far as the 2018 debacle in which a former chair, Justin Milne, and former managing director, Michelle Guthrie, showed themselves susceptible to pressure from the Turnbull government.

    Both resigned within a few days of each other after a stream of sensational allegations leaked to the press about Milne allegedly calling on Guthrie to fire the chief economics correspondent, Emma Alberici, and the political editor, Andrew Probyn.

    Perhaps the Lattouf case will at last stiffen their sinews and make standing up for their journalists a primary qualification for editorial leadership.

    The Lattouf case also leaves unresolved the question of the extent to which a media organisation is entitled to place restrictions on a staff journalist’s private activities to protect its interests and reputation.

    Denis Muller 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. Antoinette Lattouf’s unfair dismissal win shows ABC must be more courageous in defending its journalists – https://theconversation.com/antoinette-lattoufs-unfair-dismissal-win-shows-abc-must-be-more-courageous-in-defending-its-journalists-259445

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Axiom-4 mission to launch today from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a landmark private spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS), will launch on Wednesday from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.

    Axiom Space, in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX, organised the mission, which features a diverse international crew and marks a major step forward in commercial and global space exploration.

    Scheduled to lift off at 2:31 a.m. EDT (12:01 p.m. IST) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the mission will transport four astronauts aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, propelled into orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket. Docking with the ISS is expected at around 7:00 a.m. EDT (4:30 p.m. IST) on Thursday, June 26.

    “All systems are looking good for Wednesday’s launch of @Axiom_Space’s Ax-4 mission to the @Space_Station and weather is 90 per cent favorable for liftoff. Webcast starts at 12:30 a.m.” SpaceX posted on X ahead of the launch.

    Among the crew is Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, representing ISRO, who will serve as the mission’s pilot. He is joined by veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ESA astronaut Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. For India, Hungary, and Poland, this mission signifies a return to human spaceflight after a long hiatus.

    Earlier on Tuesday NASA confirmed the final schedule via its official X handle, “With @Axiom_Spaceand @SpaceX, we’re now targeting Wednesday, June 25, to launch #Ax4 to the @Space_Station. The four-member crew, including astronauts from @ESA and @ISRO, is scheduled to lift off at 2:31am ET (0631 UTC).”

    Axiom-4 has experienced multiple delays leading up to Wednesday’s launch. Initial postponements were due to unfavourable weather conditions, followed by technical issues, including detected leaks in the Falcon 9 rocket. After a thorough review and resolution of the problems, the launch was cleared.

    This is the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS under Axiom Space’s expanding program, signalling growing international interest in commercial space missions and partnerships.

    (IANS)