NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi to pay state visit to Russia, attend Great Patriotic War Victory celebrations on May 7-10 2025-05-04 17:29:39 Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Russia from May 7 to 10 and attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Sunday.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

    BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Russia from May 7 to 10 and attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Sunday.

    With a historic vision and from a strategic height, President Xi and President Putin have guided China-Russia relations in the new era to always forge ahead despite a complex external environment and demonstrate the relations’ defining features of everlasting good-neighborliness and friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutual benefit, cooperation and win-win, the spokesperson said.

    The spokesperson introduced that during the upcoming state visit, President Xi will have strategic communication with President Putin on China-Russia relations under new circumstances and on a series of major international and regional issues.

    “We believe the important common understandings between the two presidents will further deepen political mutual trust between the two countries, add new substance to strategic coordination, promote practical cooperation in various fields, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and contribute more stability and positive energy to the international community,” the spokesperson said.

    Noting this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War, the spokesperson said that as the two main theaters of Asia and Europe in World War II, China and Russia made immense sacrifice and major, historic contributions to secure the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, save their respective nations from demise, and also save the future of mankind.

    President Xi and President Putin previously agreed that the two sides will jointly remember history, honor the martyrs, foster a right view of the World War II history, defend the outcomes of the victory in the war and the post-war international order, and uphold international fairness and justice, the spokesperson said.

    At this special historic juncture, President Xi’s attendance at the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow upon invitation is an important part of his visit, the spokesperson said, adding that it is also reflective of support by China and Russia to each other’s commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War.

    This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN, the spokesperson said, noting that China and Russia, as founding members of the UN and permanent members of the UN Security Council, shoulder special and important responsibility in safeguarding the international system with the UN at its core.

    “The two countries will further strengthen their close coordination in the UN, SCO, BRICS and other multilateral platforms, rally the Global South, shape global governance in the right direction, unequivocally oppose acts of unilateralism and bullying, and jointly promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization,” the spokesperson said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: Traffic has been launched on four-lane sections of the M-9 “Baltia” highway from Moscow to the Rzhev Memorial

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The section of the highway from Moscow to the Rzhev Memorial to the Soviet Soldier has been expanded

    May 3, 2025

    The section of the highway from Moscow to the Rzhev Memorial to the Soviet Soldier has been expanded

    May 3, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    The section of the highway from Moscow to the Rzhev Memorial to the Soviet Soldier has been expanded

    In anticipation of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, federal road workers launched traffic on sections of the federal highway M-9 “Baltia” in the Tver and Moscow regions that were widened as a result of major repairs. Now the entire route from Moscow to the Rzhev Memorial to the Soviet Soldier has four or more traffic lanes. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

    “The Rzhev Memorial is the most important symbol of the Great Victory of our country, the dedication and bravery of the soldiers of the Soviet Army. Today, this memorial is a place of universal attraction. Since 2020, it has already attracted about 5 million visitors. Of course, the route to the memorial should be as convenient, safe and comfortable as possible. To this end, we are actively working to expand the federal highway “Baltia” on the section from Moscow to the Rzhev Memorial. The total length of this route is about 212 km within the boundaries of the Tver and Moscow regions. For 101 km, this highway already had four or more traffic lanes, and the main emphasis in the major repairs was on the remaining 111 km. It is very important that on the eve of Victory Day, we are launching traffic on the entire expanded route, and on the memorial day, it will be more convenient for citizens to get to the military-patriotic complex,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    The bulk of the work was concentrated in the Tver Region, where the Rzhev Memorial is located – at the 229th km of the M-9 “Baltia” highway. The capital repair project and the program for further comprehensive development of automobile approaches to this historical complex were implemented, among other things, on the initiative of the Governor of the Tver Region Igor Rudenya, which was supported by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin.

    It is important to note that the comprehensive modernization of the M-9 “Baltia” highway will contribute to the further development of the tourism potential of both the Tver and Moscow regions.

    “The expansion of sections of the M-9 Baltiya highway is not only an important step towards increasing the transport accessibility of iconic historical sites in these regions, but also a key factor in the development of the entire Central Federal District. The Baltiya highway provides a connection between Moscow and the northwestern part of our country. Increasing the capacity of this transport artery will give impetus to many sectors of the economy, especially tourism,” emphasized Transport Minister Roman Starovoit.

    In the Tver region, the work on the major repairs of the Baltiya was carried out in the Zubtsovsky and Rzhevsky municipal districts. And in the Moscow region – within the boundaries of the Volokolamsky and Shakhovskaya urban districts.

    “Large-scale capital repair work was mainly concentrated on the section from the 118th to the 229th km, in parallel on several sections at once. Much attention was paid to the issue of increasing road safety, including by separating traffic flows. Today we are launching work traffic, and the entire range of capital repair work on the M-9 “Baltia” highway in the Moscow and Tver regions will be completed in November of this year,” said the head of the Federal Road Agency Roman Novikov.

    In the Tver Region, the main front of work fell on the section from km 158 to km 229. In particular, on the section from km 214 to km 220, the roadway was fully expanded to four traffic lanes. Culverts were installed, treatment facilities were installed, road markings were applied, and a dividing parapet fence was installed. At the moment, specialists are installing road signs. Similar work was carried out on the section from km 194 to km 204, where new markings are still being applied.

    The adjacent section, from the 180th to the 194th km, where another iconic monument symbolizing the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War is located, was also expanded to four lanes. It is a monument to the legendary BM-13 combat vehicle, the Katyusha (187th km of the M-9 highway). It is installed in a significant place – here, on August 4, 1942, soldiers of the 118th Rifle Division, together with other units of the Soviet Army, broke through the defense of the Nazi troops. At the moment, the installation of local treatment facilities and noise protection screens, as well as the planning and strengthening of the slopes of the culverts are being completed on this section.

    On sections from 158 to 180 km and from 220 to 229 km, specialists also carried out work to increase the number of traffic lanes. At the same time, work on the construction of the roadbed, lower and upper layers of the base and layers of asphalt concrete pavement is currently being completed.

    In the Moscow Region, the road infrastructure on the Baltiya highway is also being actively modernized. During the major repairs, a section of about 40 km (from the 118th to the 158th km) was expanded from two to four lanes. Currently, road workers are completing the installation of road surfaces and applying markings. To improve safety, a metal barrier fence will be installed, which will prevent cars from driving into the oncoming lane. In addition, it is planned to install local lighting near pedestrian crossings, at junctions and intersections with local roads.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DHS Announces the Rescission of Romania’s Designation into the Visa Waiver Program

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: DHS Announces the Rescission of Romania’s Designation into the Visa Waiver Program

    strong>WASHINGTON —Today, the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of State, rescinded Romania’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP) designation

    Despite security concerns, the Biden Administration designated Romania as a VWP country on January 9, 2025

    On March 25, 2025, DHS paused implementation of the VWP in order to conduct a review of Romania’s designation

    That review has concluded and, given this Administration’s focus on border and immigration security, DHS decided that Romania’s designation should be rescinded in order to protect the integrity of the VWP and to ensure border and immigration security

    Romania may be reconsidered for VWP designation in the future should they meet the statutory eligibility criteria

    “Maintaining the Visa Waiver Program’s high standards is essential to our national security

    In light of this Administration’s focus on border and immigration security, the Secretary of Homeland Security has decided, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to rescind Romania’s VWP designation effective immediately,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

    “We are grateful for Romania’s close partnership over the years to enhance security cooperation

    Romania may be reconsidered for VWP admission in the future

    ”
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Blaming Donald Trump for conservative losses in both Canada and Australia is being too kind to Peter Dutton

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By David Smith, Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign Policy, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney

    Australia’s federal election, held less than a week after Canada’s, has produced a shockingly similar outcome. Commentators all over the world have pointed out the parallels.

    In both countries, centre-left governments looked like they were in serious trouble not long ago.

    On February 23, a Resolve Strategic poll found the Coalition leading Labor 55-45% on a two-party-preferred basis. An Angus Reid poll in December found voting intention for Canada’s Liberals dropping to just 16%, compared to 45% for the Conservatives.

    Yet, both governments are now celebrating historic victories. And in both countries, the conservative opposition leaders, Pierre Poilievre and Peter Dutton, lost their own seats.

    US President Donald Trump was undoubtedly a factor in both elections. Even Trump’s most ardent Australian fans admit the reversal of the Coalition’s fortunes in the polls seems to have been precipitated by Trump’s actions, particularly his chaotic tariff announcements and his White House humiliation of Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

    In Canada, Trump cheerfully presented himself as an existential threat to the country.

    But if anything, Labor’s landslide win in the Australian election on Saturday highlights just how poorly the Coalition fared under Dutton compared to Canada’s Conservatives. The Coalition bottomed out, while the Tories fared reasonably well in the face of difficult circumstances.

    A painful but respectable loss for Conservatives in Canada

    So, why the huge difference between the two parties? This is largely because of the differences between the Canadian and Australian electoral systems.

    Unlike Australia, Canada does not have preferential voting – a vote for one party is a vote against another. The Liberals’ rise in the polls came mostly at the expense of the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) rather than the Conservatives.

    Back in December, 21% of voters preferred the NDP, compared to 16% for Justin Trudeau’s deeply unpopular Liberals. But when Trudeau stepped down and Mark Carney became the party’s new leader, the threat posed by Trump unified centre-left Canadian voters behind the Liberals, who had the best chance of winning.

    This is the strategic voting that is necessary in winner-take-all systems. The NDP has never won the largest share of seats in a national election, and it never had a chance of winning this one.

    The NDP was left with seven seats in last week’s election and under 7% of the vote, losing their party status in parliament and their leader. This was the most significant “Trump effect” on the Canadian election.

    Canada’s Conservatives ended up with 41.3% of the vote. This was only a few points down from their December high of 45% in the Angus Reid poll. They also won the greatest share of the national vote by any centre-right party since 1988, and expanded their share of seats in the parliament.

    The Liberals, meanwhile, barely won the popular vote and fell three seats short of a majority.

    Poilievre was rightly criticised for failing to respond effectively to the challenge posed by Trump’s bullying, instead continuing to campaign as if the election were still a referendum on Trudeau.

    That may have cost him a victory that seemed certain months earlier, especially considering Carney made his campaign all about standing up to Trump.

    Yet, the Conservatives still performed well enough for Poilievre to retain his position as opposition leader despite losing his seat. Another Conservative sacrificed his own seat to let Poilievre back into parliament.

    Dutton’s mistakes were bigger

    It’s hard to imagine any member of Dutton’s party doing the same. Dutton handed Labor a staggeringly high two-party-preferred vote and (likely) the most seats it has ever had. Labor won 86 seats in 1987, while Anthony Albanese’s party will have at least 86, with the count continuing.

    Dutton’s campaign has been widely described as “shambolic”. But it wasn’t just the last five weeks that doomed the Coalition.

    From the moment he became leader, it was clear Dutton had little interest in winning back the former Liberal heartland seats that fell to Teal independents in 2022. Instead, he held out the promise the outer suburbs would become the new heartland.

    Following the patterns established by John Howard, Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison, he believed the loss of middle-class women, once the backbone of the Liberal vote, could be compensated by gains among working-class men.

    This was always a pipe dream, given the flimsiness of the culture war issues that have been Dutton’s preferred terrain. But it drove urban voters further away from the Liberal Party.

    The Liberals should have been alarmed that in state elections and byelections last year, they were making almost no gains in metropolitan seats, whether inner suburban or outer suburban.

    The Coalition should resist seeing Trump as a natural disaster over which they had no control. Dutton consciously positioned himself as part of the global populist right that Trump leads. Voters recognised this, even when Dutton half-heartedly tried to distance himself from Trump.

    Not all right-wing populists are the same. Poilievre and Dutton have their own brands of populism they have spent decades cultivating, as have other right-wing populists like Javier Milei in Argentina. But in the suffocating global environment created by Trump, there is limited room for brand differentiation. He is the unavoidable reference point of right-wing politics.

    Last November, many right-wing figures thought this would benefit them. One of them is now a spectacular political casualty.

    David Smith 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. Blaming Donald Trump for conservative losses in both Canada and Australia is being too kind to Peter Dutton – https://theconversation.com/blaming-donald-trump-for-conservative-losses-in-both-canada-and-australia-is-being-too-kind-to-peter-dutton-255599

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: MAGA Minute, May 3, 2025

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

    JAM-PACKED MAGA WEEK!

    100 Days
    Mugshots on WH Lawn
    IBM, Walmart, Merck, Benz, Bel, & Pratt Invest
    Eagles
    Ukraine Mineral Deal
    EO: Roads + Cars
    Sanctuary Cities, NPR/PBS Cut
    VP Vance at Nucor
    WH Wire
    FLOTUS Melania Trump’s “Take It Down Act”

    Watch Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s MAGA Minute!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbdTP0LzkoY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: True American Hero – Army Capt. Daniel Ken Inouye

    Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)

    @usarmy Capt. Daniel Inouye’s military and public service lasted more than half a century.

    During a #WWII battle in Italy, amidst heavy fire, Inouye led his platoon with unmatched bravery, taking out an enemy position and refusing to evacuate despite being severely wounded. For his courage and selflessness, he earned the #MedalofHonor. #TrueAmericanHero #military

    For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RqymDyBnt4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: 3D-Printed Railway Station & 6 Manufacturing Myths | WEF | Top Stories Week

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    This week’s top stories of the week include:

    0:15 Platform boots workplace inclusivity — Inclusively rounds up what potential employers can offer them from reasonable adjustments to assistive technologies. Employees can log in anonymously and state their disabilities and needs for support or resources.

    3:40 Japan 3D-printed this railway station — Hatsushima’s old wooden station was built in 1948 and needed replacing but building a new one would have taken 2 months. Serendix printed the new station’s parts in a week before transporting them to Hatsushima for assembly.

    5:13 How to identify and fight online harms — Making the digital world safe while protecting freedom of expression is an ongoing challenge. Nearly half of US teens say they’re online almost constantly but how safe is their digital world?

    8:41 6 myths about modern manufacturing — We sat down with 4 manufacturing leaders based in Switzerland, Morocco, Belgium and the US to discuss common mistakes people have about the industry.

    _____________________________________________

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
    YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/ 
    Twitter ► https://twitter.com/wef
    LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
    TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
    Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

    #WorldEconomicForum

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PTbZ8cdk0Y

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Ukraine: call for protection of civilians – OCHA briefing at the Security Council | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    For her part, senior OCHA official Joyce Msuya said that as the war continues, millions of lives are impacted daily, essential services are disrupted and humanitarian needs deepened.

    She highlighted, “Attacks on healthcare services and health facilities are crippling access to maternal care,” highlighting that pregnant women are now giving birth amid blackouts, medicine shortages and under attack, with a 12 per cent rise in birth complications reported by health workers.

    “For many expectant mothers, basic, life-saving care is simply no longer available,” Msuya said.

    The Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator emphasized once again, “Under international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian objects must be protected.”

    “This means that indiscriminate attacks are strictly prohibited. It also means that parties must take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm, whether they are launching attacks or defending against them,” Msuya stressed.

    The Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator also noted that underfunding is forcing critical programmes to scale down, even as the operational environment becomes more complex and dangerous.

    “Additional resources are needed now to save lives and sustain assistance,” she concluded.

    For his part, US Acting Alternate Representative John Kelley said, “Right now, Russia has a great opportunity to achieve adorable peace,” adding that “the burden for ending the war rests with Russia and with Ukraine.”

    He said, “It is up to the leaders of both these countries to decide whether peace is possible. If both sides are ready to end the war, the United States will fully support their path to a lasting peace.”

    The US Representative highlighted, “The benefits for Ukraine and Russia accepting the US proposal are immense. Their economies can begin to grow, their cities to rebuild, and their peoples to heal.”

    Conversely, Kelley said, “the risks that accompany more war are immeasurable. The harm would disproportionately fall on ordinary Ukrainians and Russian families, who overwhelmingly desire peace.”

    The US Representative urged both Ukraine and Russia to “accept peace, “we ask our fellow council members and all UN member states to support the path to peace,” he said.

    Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia criticized that today’s meeting was “requested by a number of the most stubborn European sponsors of the Kyiv regime.”

    “This is a reflection of their fear of being sidelined in the context of the new US administration as it seeks to arrive at a long-term solution to the Ukrainian crisis. Hence the desire to thwart this process and to restore for Ukraine Zelensky’s image of a victim, which has been tarnished in recent months, in the light of the new facts that have surfaced,” the Russian Ambassador added.

    Ambassador Nebenzia also said that the Russian and US dialog is ongoing, “there will be discussions of a number of nuances for the future contours of the peace plan from the very start of the conflict,” he said.

    “We announced that we preferred diplomatic methods for the attainment of the goals of our special military operation. And this is why Russia remains focused on achieving a sustained, long-term solution that would eradicate the root causes of the conflict and to prevent that from occurring,” the Russian Ambassador emphasized.

    For her part, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Betsa Mariana reiterated, “Russia cannot be allowed to cherry pick the political convenient dates to announce a short lived ceasefire simply for PR purposes, or gain additional tactical advantages.”

    She said, “Ukraine is ready to support a just, comprehensive and lasting peace. And this is what we are constantly proposing for at least 30 days. And we reconfirm this proposal.”

    Foreign Minister Mariana stressed her country’s position on peace negotiations is “clear and consistent.”

    She said, “Ukraine wants peace like no one else. However, we cannot accept peace at any cost. We cannot accept peace at any price. Any future arrangement has to respect Ukraine’s redlines.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAD_Xa4R130

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMENDMENTS 037-037 – REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section III – Commission, executive agencies and the ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds – A10-0074/2025(037-037)

    Source: European Parliament

    AMENDMENTS 037-037
    REPORT
    on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section III – Commission, executive agencies and the ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds
    (2024/2019(DEC))
    Committee on Budgetary Control
    Rapporteur: Niclas Herbst

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMENDMENTS 053-062 – REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section III – Commission, executive agencies and the ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds – A10-0074/2025(053-062)

    Source: European Parliament

    AMENDMENTS 053-062
    REPORT
    on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section III – Commission, executive agencies and the ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds
    (2024/2019(DEC))
    Committee on Budgetary Control
    Rapporteur: Niclas Herbst

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMENDMENTS 073-082 – REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section III – Commission, executive agencies and the ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds – A10-0074/2025(073-082)

    Source: European Parliament

    AMENDMENTS 073-082
    REPORT
    on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section III – Commission, executive agencies and the ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds
    (2024/2019(DEC))
    Committee on Budgetary Control
    Rapporteur: Niclas Herbst

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMENDMENTS 001-001 – REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section VIII – European Ombudsman – A10-0055/2025(001-001)

    Source: European Parliament

    AMENDMENTS 001-001
    REPORT
    on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section VIII – European Ombudsman
    (2024/2027(DEC))
    Committee on Budgetary Control
    Rapporteur: Joachim Stanisław Brudziński

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMENDMENTS 006-006 – REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 as regards the role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season – A10-0079/2025(006-006)

    Source: European Parliament

    AMENDMENTS 006-006
    REPORT
    on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 as regards the role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season
    (COM(2025)0099 – C10-0041/2025 – 2025/0051(COD))
    Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
    Rapporteur: Borys Budka

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMENDMENTS 262-271 – REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the screening of foreign investments in the Union and repealing Regulation (EU) 2019/452 of the European Parliament and of the Council – A10-0061/2025(262-271)

    Source: European Parliament

    AMENDMENTS 262-271
    REPORT
    on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the screening of foreign investments in the Union and repealing Regulation (EU) 2019/452 of the European Parliament and of the Council
    (COM(2024)0023 – C9-0011/2024 – 2024/0017(COD))
    Committee on International Trade
    Rapporteur: Raphaël Glucksmann

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMENDMENTS 272-276 – REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the screening of foreign investments in the Union and repealing Regulation (EU) 2019/452 of the European Parliament and of the Council – A10-0061/2025(272-276)

    Source: European Parliament

    AMENDMENTS 272-276
    REPORT
    on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the screening of foreign investments in the Union and repealing Regulation (EU) 2019/452 of the European Parliament and of the Council
    (COM(2024)0023 – C9-0011/2024 – 2024/0017(COD))
    Committee on International Trade
    Rapporteur: Raphaël Glucksmann

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ‘Silver lining’ effect for many women who separate in midlife

    Source:

    05 May 2025

    A new study challenges a common assumption that Australian women who divorce or separate in midlife are destined for a bleak future.

    While finances can be a struggle and personal happiness declines in the short term, it gradually increases within a few years, often exceeding pre-divorce levels.

    That’s one finding from a South Australian study that tracked over 1400 women who had divorced or separated, comparing them with a control group of over 2500 women who remained in long-term relationships.

    Life satisfaction was tracked over multiple decades, using data from nine waves of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. The findings have been published in the Journal of Happiness Studies.

    Researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) and the University of Adelaide said that social support, perceived control, and income satisfaction influenced how well women adjusted after their relationships dissolved.

    Lead author, UniSA clinical psychology master’s student Olivia Arcangeli, says that divorce and separation are among the most stressful experiences of adulthood, yet little is known about the impact of later-life relationship dissolution.

    “When long-term relationships end during midlife (age 45-50), people still have decades ahead of them, but also less time to re-establish themselves financially and in other ways,” Arcangeli says.

    “We found that within three to four years, divorced and separated women returned to their pre-dissolution levels of life satisfaction. This contrasts with a similar study in Germany, which showed that women still had not returned to pre-divorce levels of happiness five to six years after their relationship ended.”

    The difference between the two countries may be attributed to more lenient attitudes towards divorce in Australia, where there is far less stigma around divorce than in Germany.

    University of Adelaide psychology lecturer, Dr Anastasia Ejova, says the Australian study showed that life satisfaction levels for divorced and separated women matched those of married and partnered women approximately 13.5 years after their relationship ended, and continued growing somewhat faster, slightly exceeding the control group’s life satisfaction in the last few years of measurement.

    “This finding can be explained through the lens of post-traumatic growth, whereby individuals who experience major crises may develop increased insight and gratitude regarding their circumstances, which in turn increases their wellbeing,” Dr Ejova says. “We would ideally need to keep following the women for another few years to see whether the faster growth post-separation is sustained.”

    Women whose life satisfaction levels fell sharply in the years surrounding the relationship breakup experienced greater long-term happiness afterwards.

    The researchers say this could be linked to feelings of relief after dealing with high levels of stress and conflict during their relationship.

    Among the control group, happiness levels also rose later in the marriage, consistent with the view that many marital problems were able to be resolved over time.

    Women with strong support networks, a sense of control over their lives, and a greater ability to manage on their available income reported higher life satisfaction post separation.

    The effects of re-partnering, having children, and education were either non-significant or unexpected.

    Unlike previous research on men and women, this study did not find re-partnering to improve life satisfaction levels post-divorce for Australian women. The researchers note it is possible that the benefits of re-partnering are more likely to be seen in men.

    In addition, despite an assumption that children present significant emotional and financial challenges for divorcees, the study showed minimal differences in happiness levels post-divorce between women with and without children.

    “The findings highlight the need for targeted support services for middle-aged women going through divorce and separation,” Arcangeli says.

    “Providing access to counselling, financial advice and social support networks could help women navigate the emotional and economic challenges of separation more effectively, making a big difference to their long-term wellbeing.”

    Notes for editors

    “Does Time Heal All Wounds? Life Satisfaction Trajectories in Australian Middle-Aged Women Before and After Relationship Dissolution” is published in the Journal of Happiness Studies.
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-024-00853-5

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Luis de Guindos: Interview with Die Presse

    Source: European Central Bank

    Interview with Luis de Guindos, Vice-President of the ECB, conducted by Jakob Zirm on 28 April 2025

    3 May 2025

    Die Presse: Since June 2024 the ECB has already cut interest rates seven times. How long will this period of interest rate cuts last?

    Luis de Guindos: This will depend on how inflation develops. But we can be optimistic because our latest forecasts show that, from the end of this year, inflation will be very close to our target of 2%. Moreover, inflation continues to fall thanks to three additional factors. First, the euro has appreciated. Second, energy and commodity prices are declining. And third, the current economic uncertainty about tariffs could lead to greater wage moderation than that already suggested by the latest survey results. All these elements contribute to bringing inflation further down. And this is the decisive factor in whether we continue to lower interest rates.

    Where would you place the neutral interest rate, i.e. the rate which neither stimulates nor restricts economic growth? Is this a target for the ECB?

    The discussion about the neutral rate is very interesting from an academic standpoint. However, it is not very helpful for monetary policy decision-making because the neutral rate cannot be directly observed. Our decisions are based on how inflation develops, our projections and how our monetary policy is transmitted to the real economy. And, as I said, we are optimistic that we will sustainably achieve our inflation target.

    The US Federal Reserve is lowering interest rates much more slowly than the ECB. Is the large interest rate differential between the United States and the euro area a problem?

    The situation in the United States and Europe is different. You should look not only at nominal interest rates, but also at real interest rates. In the United States, inflation and inflation expectations are higher than in Europe, due to a different economic outlook. So the interest rate differential is smaller in real terms. In addition, inflation is more persistent in the United States.

    We have policy space to pursue our own monetary policy, but of course we are monitoring what is happening in the United States.

    In 2022 the euro depreciated massively after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates half a year sooner. Is there a similar risk again now?

    Not necessarily at the moment. Despite all the uncertainties and contrary to expectations, the euro appreciated after the tariff announcements. Exchange rate developments depend on many factors. We do not have any exchange rate objective, but we monitor the exchange rate closely because it is an important macroeconomic variable in our assessment of the risks for price stability.

    It is important to moderate exchange rate volatility.

    But if the trend reverses and the dollar becomes significantly stronger again, could this fuel inflation in the euro area again?

    We are closely monitoring exchange rate developments. But there are currently no signs of a weakening of the euro. Much will depend on how the current dispute over tariffs develops.

    The average inflation rate in the euro area is currently 2.2%. However, some eastern European countries still have inflation rates of 3% or 4%. Is inflation really under control everywhere in the euro area?

    Differences in inflation developments between countries are normal, it’s the average that is crucial. Our projections show that both headline and core inflation are on track to reach our 2% target. We are paying particular attention to monitoring services inflation, which is strongly influenced by wages. Here, too, we are seeing signs of a slowdown in wage dynamics.

    Let’s talk about growth. In March the ECB predicted GDP growth of 0.9% for the euro area in 2025. Is this still realistic given the tariff debate?

    You are right – this forecast was made before the announcement of US tariffs. Uncertainty we’ve seen since then has weighed on economic activity and is likely to delay investment and consumption. Uncertainty is always bad for the economy. We already pointed to such downside risks in our March projections. The risks are now materialising.

    In Austria, we are in recession for the third year in a row now. Could the entire euro area slide into a recession?

    No, our baseline continues to expect very low but positive growth. It’s well below potential growth, but I don’t think that the euro area is heading into a recession.

    US tariffs are currently suspended. How bad would the damage be if the trade war were to escalate?

    An all-out trade war would have a very serious impact on growth. I really hope it doesn’t come to that. It is also important to take the diversion effects that can occur in trade flows into account, making the consequences difficult to predict.

    US President Donald Trump recently launched a mass attack on the Federal Reserve and its Chair Jerome Powell. What are the consequences of such an attempt to exert political pressure on the work of central banks?

    The independence of central banks is crucial. It is key to their credibility and thus to combating inflation. Even when inflation was extremely high two years ago, inflation expectations in Europe remained anchored because the central bank was considered independent and credible. This credibility is essential to keep inflation expectations under control and, in particular, to avoid wage-price spirals.

    There has been a discussion on whether the euro’s role as a reserve currency could be strengthened if confidence in the US dollar declines. Do you see that as possible?

    The dollar is clearly leading as a reserve currency. The international importance of the euro is a lot less in comparison. Its future development depends on us, however. If Europe builds stronger capital markets and establishes itself as a true single market, the role of the euro at international level could be strengthened. Closer integration and a more pro-European approach are crucial.

    What would be needed to create a true European capital markets union?

    Three central pillars would be needed. First, we need a true single market – barriers and national legislation that impede further integration must be removed. Second, we need to complete the banking union. We already have single supervision and resolution, but we still lack a common deposit guarantee scheme. Third, we need to further develop the capital markets union itself. These three elements are interconnected – progress in one area is difficult without progress in the other two.

    Many support the capital markets union but little progress has been made. Who is blocking it?

    The problem is that without a true single market for goods and services, the capital markets union is also difficult to implement. The banking union is more advanced but there is still a lot to be done. Capital flows follow the real economy, which is why we need integrated goods and services markets.

    In this situation, does it help if national governments block cross-border bank mergers – as is currently the case in Germany, where UniCredit wishes to buy Commerzbank?

    I will not comment on any specific mergers. But in general, we support cross-border mergers because they are necessary to create truly European banks and complete the banking union.

    Is there too much nationalism in the European financial system?

    Sometimes there is too much national focus. But there is a growing awareness that Europe needs to become more independent. And the only way to remain relevant on the world stage is to be more European and a little less nationally focused.

    The European Commission is now also pushing ahead with the simplification of European regulation. This also applies to the financial market of course. Where should economic activity be made easier for businesses?

    The ECB has set up its own high-level task force, which I coordinate. It’s meant to draw up proposals by the end of the year, which will be passed on to the legislator. This may involve, for example, the implementation of Basel III or reporting, which could be streamlined, or the simplification of bank capital structure, to make it clearer and more understandable for investors. However, simplification does not mean de-regulation, it should not jeopardise banks’ solvency.

    When inflation was high, many euro area countries steeply increased their debt and the ECB bought many government bonds, which amounted to some 30% of the outstanding volume in the case of some countries. Is that a problem?

    Those measures were necessary in the context of the pandemic. But now we need to increase defence spending and preserve fiscal sustainability at the same time in order to avoid rising market interest rates and thus lower private investment. That won’t be easy.

    The Austrian central bank has reported annual losses of more than €2 billion in the past two years. This was due to the purchase of low-yield government bonds. Is that the hidden price of expansionary monetary policy?

    Our monetary policy is not determined by the profit and loss accounts of the central banks. Looking back, central banks have made significant gains over the past ten years. The current loss is a consequence of the high liquidity in the market, on which central banks have to pay higher interest rates. However, this liquidity is currently being reduced at a fast pace. The situation will improve in the future.

    Are the high debt levels of euro area countries jeopardising future growth?

    When markets have doubts about debt sustainability, market interest rates rise, which can reduce private investment. That is why a credible and sustainable fiscal policy is crucial.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: WAVES 2025: A People’s Movement that Empowers Every Creator to be a Star

    Source: Government of India

    WAVES 2025: A People’s Movement that Empowers Every Creator to be a Star

    WAVES Bazaar a resounding success; records business transactions worth more than Rs. 1328 crores with 3000+ B2B Meetings in 3 days; Govt of Maharashtra signs MoUs worth Rs 8000 crores in M&E Sector

    Member Nations adopt WAVES Declaration at Global Media Dialogue

    Investment worth Rs 50 crores in pipeline as part of WAVEX Startup Accelerator

    Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) poised to be a milestone in capacity building for Creative Economy

    Create in India Challenge promises to foster Creative Economy in India

    Knowledge Reports unveiled at WAVES project India’s giant leaps in Creative Economy

    Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 7:48PM by PIB Mumbai

    Mumbai, 4 May 2025

     

    The premier edition of World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) concluded on a high note today in Mumbai, registering an overwhelming response from exhibitors, industry leaders, startups, policymakers, academia, and the general public. The summit emerged as a key convergence point for the media and entertainment ecosystem, drawing participation from every segment of the industry — from celebrated artists and influential content creators to tech innovators and corporate leaders. With a vibrant mix of exhibitions, panel discussions, and B2B collaborations, the event witnessed a remarkable turnout and reaffirmed India’s position as a rising global Powerhouse of media and entertainment.

    The celebration of creativity, technology, and storytelling began with the inauguration of its maiden edition by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in a star-studded event held in Jio World Convention Centre. In his inaugural address, Prime Minister Modi remarked that WAVES is not just an acronym, it is a wave of culture, creativity and universal connectivity. The Prime Minister said that India is emerging as a global hub for film production, digital content, gaming, fashion, music and live concerts. He called upon the creators of the world to dream big and tell their stories; to the investors to invest not just in platforms, but in people; and to the Indian youth – to tell their one billion untold stories to the world. Declaring WAVES as the dawn of India’s Orange Economy, he urged the youth to lead this creative surge and make India a global creative hub.

    High-impact Knowledge Sessions

    Taking forward the vision of the Prime Minister, WAVES 2025, over the last four days, acted as a platform for high-level exchange of ideas, skills, and sectoral insights. The Conference Track of WAVES 2025 served as a vital forum for dialogue and collaboration, bringing together thought leaders, industry pioneers, policymakers, and professionals from across the globe. Through a carefully curated series of plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and master classes, the summit explored the latest innovations and emerging strategies shaping the future of the Media & Entertainment industry. The sessions enabled meaningful exchange of ideas, cutting across domains and specialisations.

    The maiden edition of WAVES will be known for the high impact knowledge sessions and the discourse covering a broad spectrum of topics, including Broadcasting and Infotainment, AVGC-XR, Digital Media, and Films. With more than 140 sessions featuring more than 100 international speakers, spread across three main halls (each accommodating over 1,000 participants) and five additional halls with capacities ranging from 75 to 150, the Summit maintained overwhelming attendance levels — with many sessions recording full occupancy.

    The plenary Sessions featured over 50 keynote addresses by eminent personalities such as Mukesh Ambani, Ted Sarandos, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Neal Mohan, Shantanu Narayen, Mark Read, Adam Mosseri, and Nita Ambani. Their insights offered compelling perspectives on the evolving entertainment industry, advertising landscape, and digital transformation. Film icons including Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal, Hema Malini, Akshay Kumar, Nagarjuna, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Allu Arjun, and Shekhar Kapur, many of whom were also members of the WAVES Advisory Board, engaged in thought-provoking conversations on the future of cinema and content creation in the age of virtual production and artificial intelligence.

    The 40 masterclasses at WAVES 2025 were designed to offer practical learning and creative exploration. Participants gained direct exposure to industry techniques through sessions such as The Art of Acting by Aamir Khan, Craft of Direction by Farhan Akhtar, and Insights into Filmmaking by Michael Lehmann. Other sessions explored behind-the-scenes narratives like the making of Panchayat by Amazon Prime, designing AR lenses, creating AI avatars, and developing games using generative AI. These sessions provided professionals and aspiring creators with actionable knowledge and tools to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving creative economy.

    WAVES also featured 55 breakout sessions, which provided a platform for in-depth discussions on specialised themes such as broadcasting, digital media, OTT, AI, Music, News, Live events, Animation, Gaming, Virtual production, Comics, and Filmmaking. These interactive sessions brought together senior professionals from leading companies including Meta, Google, Amazon, X, Snap, Spotify, DNEG, Netflix, and NVIDIA, along with representatives from industry bodies such as FICCI, CII, and IMI. Designed to encourage sector-specific insights and collaboration, the discussions addressed critical challenges and charted new directions for growth and innovation.

    WAVES Bazaar garners Rs 1328 crores in Business Deals; Govt of Maharashtra signs MoUs worth Rs 8000 crores in M&E Sector

    The inaugural edition of WAVES Bazaar, organized under the umbrella of WAVES, was a resounding success as it has established itself as a premier platform for international business collaboration in the creative industries. The marketplace recorded business deals or transactions worth Rs. 1328 crores across the film, music, radio, VFX, and animation sectors. Out of the total estimated outcome, Rs. 971 cr has been from B2B meetings alone. A key highlight of the Bazaar was the Buyer-Seller Market which witnessed over 3,000 B2B meetings. In a major achievement under international collaboration, Film India Screen Collective and Screen Canterbury NZ from New Zealand announced a collaborative proposal to launch the first-ever Indian Film Festival in New Zealand. Only Much Louder CEO Tushar Kumar and Alexander Zharov, CEO of Russian firm Gazprom Media CEO announcing early talks on a MoU to collaborate on cross-cultural festivals and co-produce comedy and music shows in Russia and India was another achievement. The announcement of the Prime Video & CJ ENM Multi-Year Collaboration was another highlight of the Bazaar as the strategic partnership was unveiled to distribute premium Korean content globally. The other milestones include the announcement of the film ‘Devi Chowdhurani,’ which became the India’s first official Indo-UK co-production, and the film ‘Violated’ which will be a co-production of Fusion Flicks from the UK and JVD Films.

    The Maharashtra government has also added business value to the summit by signing MoUs worth ₹8,000 crore at the WAVES. While MoUs worth ₹1,500 crore were signed each with the University of York and the University of Western Australia, the state’s Industries Department signed MoUs worth ₹3,000 cr and ₹2,000 cr with Prime Focus and Godrej respectively.

    Member Nations adopt ‘WAVES Declaration’ at the Global Media Dialogue 2025

    The Global Media Dialogue 2025, held during the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) in Mumbai, was a landmark event with participation from 77 nations, underscoring India’s pivotal role in the global media and entertainment arena. The dialogue highlighted the power of international collaborations in fostering creativity while respecting cultural sensitivities. The member nations collectively adopted the ‘WAVES Declaration’, emphasizing the urgency of bridging the digital divide and leveraging media to promote global peace and harmony. The discussions underscored the profound role of films in uniting diverse cultures and the growing significance of individual stories in the creator economy, amplified by technological advancements.

    Dr. S. Jaishankar, Union External Affairs Minister, stressed the need for a synergy between technology and tradition, advocating for the empowerment of youth through skill development and innovation. Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, highlighted the transformative impact of technology on content creation and the critical importance of fostering local content, co-production agreements, and joint funding initiatives. India’s “Create in India” challenges, which successfully identified over 700 global creators, were showcased, with plans to expand them to 25 languages in the next edition. This summit laid a robust foundation for future global cooperation in media and entertainment, emphasizing creative excellence and ethical content production.

    WAVEX: An Accelerator for Aspiring Start-ups in M&E Sector

    WAVES Start-Up Accelerator selected 30 M&E Start-Ups to pitch their unique ideas directly to a battery of heavy-weight investors like Lumikai, Jio, CABIL, WarmUp Ventures – among the 45 key angel investors on board. With over 1000 registrations, the initiative germinated investment discussions worth Rs. 50 crore that are in pipeline. Apart from this, over 100 Start-Ups exhibited their ideas and products to potential investors in the dedicated Start-Up pavilion. WAVEX as an initiative aims to create a palpable investment ecosystem for start-ups to thrive and grow by forming an angel investor network specifically focussed on the Media and Entertainment sector. Start-Ups from Tier 1 and Tier 2 shined at WAVEX and their founders took centre-stage. To facilitate such creators better, WAVEX will set up a network of incubators with dedicated mentors for handholding and investors for seed investment. WAVEX is unique as it facilitates ideas that do not have a tangible product yet, but have a solid potential.

    Key Knowledge Reports Released at WAVES 2025

    Dr. L. Murugan, Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, unveiled five pivotal reports at the WAVES Summit 2025 in Mumbai. These reports provide a comprehensive overview of India’s thriving media and entertainment ecosystem, covering key aspects like content production, policy frameworks, and live events.

    • Statistical Handbook on Media & Entertainment 2024-25:The Statistical Handbook, prepared by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, offers valuable data-driven insights into India’s media landscape. It highlights growth trends in broadcasting, digital media, film certifications, and public media services, providing essential information for future policymaking and industry strategies based on empirical evidence.
    • ‘From Content to Commerce’ by BCG:  Boston Consulting Group’s Report highlights the explosive growth of India’s creator economy, estimating 2 to 2.5 million active digital creators. These creators influence over $350 billion in annual spending, with projections to surpass $1 trillion by 2030. It emphasizes building long-term, authentic partnerships over transactional engagements with creators.
    • ‘A Studio Called India’ by Ernst & Young: Ernst & Young’s Report envisions India as a global content hub, leveraging its linguistic diversity, rich culture, and technological expertise. It highlights India’s 40%-60% cost advantage in animation and VFX services and growing international demand for Indian OTT content, strengthening India’s role in global cultural diplomacy.
    • Legal Currents and Live Events Industry Reports: Khaitan & Co.’s Legal Handbook covers vital issues such as influencer marketing and compliance norms, helping media stakeholders navigate India’s regulatory landscape. Additionally, the White paper on India’s live events industry outlines the sector’s 15% growth rate, advocating for upgraded infrastructure and streamlined licensing processes to support the booming sector.

    Indian Institute of Creative Technology: A National Centre of Excellence

    Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT)— a National Centre of Excellence being set up in Mumbai is poised to be a milestone in capacity building for Creative Economy. Dedicated exclusively to the AVGC-XR sector, the establishment of the Institute was formalized on Day-3 of WAVES 2025. WAVES also witnessed the signing of strategic MoUs with Industry Associations to transform IICT as a world-class institution in the M&E Sector. Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, who ceremonially flagged off these strategic associations, emphasized India’s potential to become a global leader in media and entertainment, stating that IICT is on track to evolve into a premier institution in its field, much like how IITs and IIMs have become benchmarks in technology and management education. Some companies who have extended their hands for long-term collaborations are JioStar, Adobe, Google & YouTube, Meta, Wacom, Microsoft and NVIDIA.

    Create in India Challenge & CreatoSphere: A Global Celebration of Creative Talent

    One of the standout highlights of WAVES 2025 was the grand culmination of the Create in India Challenge (CIC) Season 1, which drew nearly one lakh registrations from over 60 countries. Launched as a flagship initiative under WAVES, CIC brought together creators across age, geography, and disciplines, spanning animation, XR, gaming, AI, filmmaking, digital music, and more. The initiative has transformed every creator who participated to be a star.

    From 32 imaginative and future-forward challenges emerged 750+ finalists, including 1100+ international participants. These talented individuals showcased their work at Creatosphere, a dedicated innovation zone at WAVES, where they presented their projects, could network with industry leaders for potential associations.

    Beyond just a competition, the Create in India Challenge evolved into a movement celebrating diversity, youth energy, and storytelling rooted in both tradition and technology. With finalists ranging from 12 to 66 years of age, and strong participation from all Indian states and UTs, the initiative embodied inclusivity and aspiration. The Creatosphere was also a launchpad for themes like grassroots innovation, drone storytelling, and future-ready content offering a glimpse into the creative India of tomorrow. As Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw aptly said during the award ceremony of CIC, “The journey has just begun.” And with initiatives like the Indian Institute of Creative Technology on the horizon, the momentum is only growing stronger.

    8th National Community Radio Sammelan and National Awards for CRs

    Organized as part of the WAVES, the 8th National Community Radio Conference in which Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan honored 12 outstanding community radio stations with National Community Radio Awards at the event. Dr L. Murugan congratulated the winners and said that the national conference is aimed to strengthen the community media landscape in India through innovation, inclusiveness, and impact. The conference brought together representatives from more than 400 Community Radio (CR) Stations across the country on one platform to provide an opportunity for dialogue and collaboration. At present, there are 531 CR Stations across the country.

    Bharat Pavilion – India’s Journey from Kala to Code

    The Bharat Pavilion, an immersive viewing zone that took visitors through the continuum of India’s storytelling traditions at WAVES 2025, has received an overwhelming reception and response from the public. The Pavilion, under the theme “From Kala to Code”, offered a compelling narrative of India’s evolution in media and entertainment—from oral and visual traditions to cutting-edge digital innovations.

    The Pavillion presented the soul of India, balancing our rich cultural heritage with the new waves of technical advancements that are already underway. On the inaugural day of WAVES 2025, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited the Pavilion. Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, External Affairs Minister Shri S. Jaishankar, Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and many other dignitaries visited the pavilion and appreciated its role in telling the story of Bharat. The pavilion also garnered huge footfall, leaving people in awe and wonder on discovering the many treasures of our nation.

    Celebrating India’s creative journey, the Bharat Pavilion was not just an exhibition of content but a powerful expression of India as a creator. It projected India’s cultural depth, artistic excellence, and emerging dominance in global storytelling.

    WAVES concludes with the promise of bright future for Creative Economy

    WAVES 2025 has set a benchmark as a global platform that seamlessly brought together creativity, commerce, and collaboration. From visionary policy announcements and landmark international agreements to robust business deals and groundbreaking startup investments, the summit underscored India’s growing stature as a global leader in the creative economy. The adoption of the WAVES Declaration by 77 participating nations and the success of the WAVES Bazaar and WAVEX Accelerator collectively signal a future anchored in innovation, inclusivity, and international partnerships. As the curtains fall on this historic first edition, WAVES has not only showcased India’s creative prowess but has also catalysed a sustained global movement — one that will continue to inspire, invest in, and elevate the voices of creators worldwide.

     

    For official updates on realtime, please follow us: 

    On X : 

    https://x.com/WAVESummitIndia

    https://x.com/MIB_India

    https://x.com/PIB_India

    https://x.com/PIBmumbai

    On Instagram: 

    https://www.instagram.com/wavesummitindia

    https://www.instagram.com/mib_india

    https://www.instagram.com/pibindia

     

    * * *

    PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/Lekshmipriya/Poushali/Swadhin/Sriyanka/Riyas/Nikhitha/ Darshana | 178

    (Release ID: 2126844) Visitor Counter : 68

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Strengthening India-Belgium Partnership: Shri Piyush Goyal Meets Belgian Minister of Foreign Trade Mr. Theo Francken and Minister-President of Flanders Mr. Matthias Diependaele

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 7:55PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, held a productive meeting in Brussels on 2nd May 2025 with Belgian Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade Mr. Theo Francken and Minister-President of the Flanders region Mr. Matthias Diependaele to strengthen the Indo-Belgian partnership across trade, technology, investment, and innovation. This engagement follows the March 2025 visit of HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium to India, where her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the shared ambition to unlock new avenues for collaboration in trade, technology, defence, agriculture, life sciences, innovation, skilling and academic exchanges. The over 300-member Belgian Economic Mission, led by Princess Astrid, infused fresh momentum into this dynamic bilateral relationship. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to building on this momentum to forge resilient, future-focused ties that enhance mutual growth and contribute to a more integrated global economic framework.

    The discussions highlighted growing economic synergies and focused on scaling bilateral trade, fostering industrial collaboration, and deepening investments in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, clean energy, defence production, and pharmaceuticals.The Flanders region, recognized as Belgium’s economic engine, was highlighted as a critical partner with its advanced manufacturing ecosystem, R&D infrastructure, and its strategic role as a European gateway. With India already the world’s fastest-growing major economy and widely expected to remain so over the next two decades ahead—driven by a young, aspirational population and a dynamic reform-oriented environment—the growth story presents an unprecedented opportunity for India and Belgium.

    The two sides reaffirmed their shared vision of mutual prosperity and resilient economic cooperation amidst evolving global challenges. Minister Goyal reflected on India’s transformative economic journey over the past decade, emphasizing reforms that have empowered citizens and entrepreneurs alike. “The last eleven years have not only been about economic upliftment, but about enabling aspirations,” he stated.

    The meeting also reviewed progress in EU–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, with both parties recognizing the need to address tariff and non-tariff barriers to enhance market access. Minister Goyal reiterated India’s position as a trusted and long-term economic partner for Europe’s growth, remarking, “India is not just a market of the future—it is a collaborator of trust.”

    Belgium remains one of India’s most significant economic partners in Europe. It is India’s 5th largest trading partner within the EU, with bilateral trade reaching USD 15.07 billion in 2023–24. Belgian FDI in India has totaled USD 3.94 billion from April 2000 to September 2024, including a remarkable 39% growth—USD 1.1 billion—in the past year alone. Bilateral cooperation spans a wide array of sectors including defence manufacturing, green hydrogen, nano-electronics, nuclear medicine, and pharmaceutical R&D, reflecting the expanding depth and strategic nature of the Indo-Belgian economic relationship. Both sides agreed to strengthen high-level engagements and facilitate regular visits by business delegations to accelerate trade and investment outcomes.

    ***

    Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayana

    (Release ID: 2126845) Visitor Counter : 56

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman to attend ADB’s Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy, from 4th to 7th May 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman to attend ADB’s Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy, from 4th to 7th May 2025

    The Union Finance Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with Finance Ministers of Italy, Japan, and Bhutan as well as heads of other international organisations, besides meeting global think-tanks, business leaders and CEOs in Milan

    Smt. Sitharaman will also interact with the Indian diaspora in Milan and also address a plenary session in at the Bocconi University on “Balancing Economic and Climate Resilience”

    Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 4:04PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman will lead the Indian delegation of officials from the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, to attend the 58th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Development Bank (ADB), scheduled to take place in Milan, Italy, from May 4 to 7, 2025.

    The meetings will be attended by official delegations of Board of Governors of ADB, official delegations of ADB members and international financial institutions. The Union Finance Minister will participate in the Annual Meeting’s focal events like the Governors’ Business session, Governor’s Plenary Session and as a panelist in the ADB Governors’ Seminar on “Cross-Border Collaboration for Future Resilience”.

    On the sidelines of the ADB’s 58th Annual Meeting, Smt. Sitharaman will also hold bilateral meetings with Finance Ministers of Italy, Japan, and Bhutan, in addition to meetings with President of ADB, the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

    The Union Finance Minister will also interact with the Indian diaspora in Milan, besides meeting global think-tanks, business leaders and CEOs, and participating in a Plenary Session of the NEXT Milan Forum at the Bocconi University on “Balancing Economic and Climate Resilience”.

    ****

    NB/KMN

    (Release ID: 2126754) Visitor Counter : 122

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Thousands of veterans to benefit from new UK-wide support network

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Thousands of veterans to benefit from new UK-wide support network

    Veterans across the UK will have easier access to essential care and support under a new VALOUR system being announced today, as part of the Government’s commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who have served through the Plan for Change.

    *As nation prepares to celebrate VE Day, the Government announces new UK-wide veteran support system, called VALOUR.    *New VALOUR network will deliver easier access to care and support with new regional networks connecting housing, employment and health services in every corner of the UK.  *Backed by £50m of funding, VALOUR will foster the enterprising spirit of veteran charities, better connect local and national services and ensure veterans’ support is truly data driven.  

    Veterans across the UK will have easier access to essential care and support under a new VALOUR system being announced today, as part of the Government’s commitment to renew the nation’s contract with those who have served through the Plan for Change.  

    £50m of funding will establish a new network of VALOUR-recognised support centres across the UK and and deploy Regional Field Officers to connect local, regional and national services – while harnessing the power of data to shape better services.  

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP and Veterans Minister Al Carns are announcing the new service during VE week, marking a major milestone in meeting this government’s manifesto promise to fully implement the Armed Forces Covenant.    

    The new Regional Field Officers will bring together charities, service providers and local government to provide more evidence and feedback driven support for veterans, across housing, employment, health and welfare.  

    The first VALOUR support centres will be operational next year, tailored to the specific needs on the ground and focused on the demands for each location. This could include advice on how to book GP appointments, access welfare or support with housing issues. 

    The Ministry of Defence is announcing today it will invite veterans to help design VALOUR through research, focus groups and feedback. While VALOUR will initially focus on veterans, the service is designed to be scaled up to support the wider Armed Forces community in the future.  

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said: 

    The nation owes a duty to those who’ve served to defend our country, and it is only right that the Government steps up our support to them. The Armed Forces set most people up for success in life but when veterans need help then support is too often a postcode patchwork.  

    Our plan to develop a UK-wide veterans support service will work with enterprising health, employment and housing charities and it is backed by the one of the largest ever Government funding commitments to veterans.   

    This Government is delivering on our Plan for Change and renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve.

    VALOUR will harness the power of data to shape better service provision and ensure the right type of support is available for veterans at a local level.   

    As the delivery arm, field officers will work with local services including local government bodies, to share best practice and guidance. This will include applying the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, the nation’s promise to support the armed forces community and their families, which will soon gain legal footing as part of the manifesto commitment.  

    Veterans Minister, Al Carns, said: 

    As a veteran who served for 24 years, I recognise the unique challenges they’ve faced and the skills they possess. This new investment will ensure that every veteran, regardless of where they live, can access joined up support services in the way they need it.   

    We are creating the UK’s first ever data-driven framework for veterans’ services, ensuring our resources are channelled to where they’re most needed and can make the greatest difference to those who have courageously served their country.

    Director General of the British Royal Legion, Mark Atkinson, said:  

    The Royal British Legion welcomes today’s announcement to improve and better coordinate government support for veterans under VALOUR. Whilst there are a range of government services already in place for veterans, these services can vary depending on where you live and your access to information about the services available. Improved coordination across health, housing, employment, and mental wellbeing services is crucial to helping veterans lead successful lives.   

    We look forward to working closely with government and partner organisations to help turn these commitments into meaningful change.

    Over the past year, the Government has delivered for veterans, including by removing the local connection requirement for veterans seeking social housing and awarding £3.5m of new funding for homelessness services. The recent launch of Op ASCEND has been critical in ensuring veterans can get onto the career ladder and access meaningful jobs.  

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Trump Highlights Victories for Americans, Sets Path For Next 100 Days

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    President Donald J. Trump, in an exclusive interview on Meet the Press, outlined the historic successes of his first 100 days — and charted the course for many more victories to come. President Trump sent a clear message: he will not relent in his mandate to secure our borders, rid our country of dangerous criminals, lower prices, end the globalist trade policies that have ripped off American workers and businesses for decades, and Make America Great Again.
    Here are the top moments you missed:
    On prices: “Prices are down on groceries. Prices are down for oil. Prices are down for all energy. Prices are down at tremendous numbers for gasoline.”
    On securing the border: “It’s really secure. When you say that, doesn’t it just sound good after being abused for years by an incompetent President?”
    On protecting Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security: “We’re not cutting Medicaid, we’re not cutting Medicare, and we’re not cutting Social Security.”
    On deporting violent criminal illegal immigrants: “We have thousands of people … some of the worst, most dangerous on earth — and I was elected to get them the hell out of here, and the courts are holding me from doing it.”
    On tariffs: “Remember — there are no tariffs if you build your product here. It’s very easy. It’s very simple.”
    On the auto industry: “What about the car business? They’re going to make a fortune because of the tariffs. The head of the union, who was no fan of mine … He’s saying, ‘Wow, what Trump’s done for the automobile, I can’t believe it … We’ve been waiting 40 years for somebody to do what Trump is doing.’”
    On Iran: “I want Iran to be really successful, really great, really fantastic. The only thing they can’t have is a nuclear weapon … The Iranian people are incredible, I just don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon because the world will be destroyed.”
    On DOGE: “They found $160 billion worth of fraud, waste, and abuse. I think he’s done an amazing job. I think his people have done an incredible job … We’re not finished yet … He’s leaving behind some very brilliant people.”
    On the border emergency: “The big emergency right now is that we have thousands of people that we want to take out — and we have some judges that want everybody to go to court … We have millions of people. We’re going to have millions of court cases?”
    On trade: “We’re making a lot of money. We’re doing great. Again, we were losing more than $5 billion a day … We’re going to be at a point soon where we’re making money every day.”
    On peace in Ukraine: “I do believe we’re closer with one party and maybe not as close with the other … We’re talking tremendous hatred between these two men.”
    On China tariffs: “At some point I’m going to lower them because otherwise you could never do business with them — and they want to do business very much. Their economy is really doing badly. Their economy is collapsing.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prime Minister’s open letter to veterans ahead of VE Day

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Prime Minister’s open letter to veterans ahead of VE Day

    An open letter from Prime Minister Keir Starmer to veterans ahead of VE Day celebrations.

    In an open letter to veterans, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    To our veterans,

    As we approach the VE Day anniversary, I want to salute your ongoing dedication to keeping our country safe. 

    This week, we celebrate the greatest victory our armed forces ever secured. And like so many families across the country, my relatives served and fought in the Second World War. Therefore, it is the highest honour of my role to meet veterans of that conflict. I think of people like Stanley Fisher and Mervyn Kersch, two Jewish veterans of the Normandy landings, who went on to become eyewitnesses to the horrors of the Bergen Belsen concentration camp in the early days of its liberation by British forces. Their stories – and countless others we will hear this week – are a reminder that our victory was not just for Britain. It was also a victory for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil. VE Day is a chance to acknowledge, again, that our debt to those who achieved it can never fully be repaid. 

    Yet as the nation falls silent on Thursday, I know that my mind will also turn to those who carry the torch of their legacy in our armed forces today – people like you. As time marches on, we all have a responsibility to renew the bonds of our history so that future generations inherit our national story as their own. But alongside our history and our values, service is the other great force that binds a nation together. So this week, I want you to know: the whole nation is inspired by the selfless dedication of your example. It is not just that you keep us all safe. It is also that you represent the best of who we are. A living link of service that unites the values we must stand for in the present, with the stories we must pass down from our past. 

    Furthermore, I know that this is not without sacrifice. I will always remember the conversation I had with a sub-mariner in Faslane, who brought home exactly what over 200 days a year underwater means for the simple things most families take for granted. Missing birthdays, weddings, anniversaries. Not being there in the photographs. From the Carrier Strike Group at sea, to our postings in Estonia, Cyprus and here in the UK, every service man and woman I have met has had a version of this story. And I recognise that this too is a debt that can never fully be repaid. But this week, the country will show you just how thankful we all are. Because we know, that without your service, the freedom, peace and joy that these celebrations embody, would not be possible. 

    So, wherever you are, wherever you serve, have a wonderful VE Day. And on behalf of a proud and grateful nation: thank you for your service.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Newly discovered tropical oyster reefs are thriving across northern Australia – they deserve protection

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Richardson, Research Fellow in Marine Science, Griffith University

    Marina Richardson

    Oysters are so much more than a seafood delicacy. They’re ecosystem engineers, capable of building remarkably complex reefs. These structures act as the kidneys of the sea, cleaning the water and keeping the coast healthy, while providing homes for millions of other animals.

    Oyster reefs were once thought to be restricted to southern, cooler coastal waters where they’re the temperate equivalent of tropical coral reefs. But now, oyster reefs are being found right across Australia’s tropical north as well.

    These tropical oyster reefs are bigger and more widespread than anyone expected. In fact, they are some of the largest known intertidal oyster reefs (exposed at low tide) left in Australia. And they’re everywhere – from the southern limit of the Queensland tropics across to the northern coast of Western Australia – yet we know almost nothing about them.

    In our recent research, my colleagues and I completed the first detailed study of Australian tropical oyster reefs. These reefs are so new to science that until now, the species responsible for building them remained a mystery.

    Using DNA, we identified the main reef-building oyster species in tropical Australia as “Saccostrea Lineage B”, making it a new addition to our national list of known reef-builders.

    Lineage B is a close relative of the commercially important Sydney rock oyster (Saccostrea glomerata), but so little is known about this tropical reef-building species that it is yet to be assigned a scientific name.

    The Saccostrea Lineage B oysters we found in Australia’s tropical north are related to Sydney rock oysters.
    Marina Richardson

    Hiding in plain sight

    So why are we only learning about tropical oyster reefs now?

    Across the globe, oyster reefs have been decimated by human activity. These reefs declined in most tropical regions long ago, even as far back as 1,000 years ago. Most oyster reefs disappeared without a trace before scientists even knew they were there.

    However, Australia’s tropical oyster reefs haven’t just survived, in some cases they have thrived.

    Despite being delicious to many, the species we now know as Lineage B was not very attractive to the aquaculture industry, due to its small size. And while oyster reefs near Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne were dredged and burned to produce lime for mortar, used in the early construction of roads and buildings, this practice was not widespread in tropical regions. This lack of commercial interest is probably the reason why tropical oyster reefs have persisted unnoticed for so long in northern Australia.

    Here the tropical oyster reefs were found growing on a combination of both rock and muddy sediment.
    Marina Richardson

    What we did and what we found

    We assessed three tropical oyster reefs in Queensland, Australia. At Wilson Beach, near Proserpine and Turkey Beach, near Gladstone, reefs were surveyed in late winter 2022. The reef at Mapoon in the Gulf of Carpentaria was surveyed in early spring 2023.

    Using drone footage, we measured reef area and structure. We then collected oysters for genetic analysis.

    Oysters are notoriously difficult to identify, because their shape, size and colour varies so much. Oysters from the same species can look completely different, while oysters from different species can look identical. That’s why it’s necessary to extract DNA.

    We found almost all reef-building oysters across the three locations were Saccostrea Lineage B.

    At Gladstone reefs, several other reef-building species were also present, including leaf oysters, pearl oysters and hairy mussels.

    We compared three tropical oyster reefs in Queensland.
    Richardson, M., et al (2025) Marine Environmental Research

    An ecosystem worthy of protection

    In southern Australia, oyster reefs are critically endangered. But we don’t really know how threatened their tropical counterparts are, although there is some evidence of decline. Further research is underway.

    A new project has begun to map oyster reefs across tropical Australia. Since the project launched in June 2024, more than 60 new reefs have been found across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia – including some as large as 5 hectares.

    These unexpected discoveries provide a beacon of hope in a world currently overwhelmed by habitat decline and ecological collapse. But tropical oyster reefs are not yet protected. It’s crucial we include them in assessments of threatened ecosystems, to understand how much trouble they’re in and what we can do to protect them into the future.

    By locating and understanding these overlooked ecosystems, we can ensure they’re not left behind in the global oyster reef restoration movement.

    Scientists and others involved in reef restoration are now inviting everyday people across Australia to get involved as citizen scientists in The Great Shellfish Hunt. Anyone can upload tropical oyster reef sightings to this mapping project. It’s more important than ever to work together and ensure tropical oyster reefs receive the protection they deserve, so they continue to thrive for generations to come.

    Marina Richardson currently receives funding from the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) and the Queensland Government Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

    – ref. Newly discovered tropical oyster reefs are thriving across northern Australia – they deserve protection – https://theconversation.com/newly-discovered-tropical-oyster-reefs-are-thriving-across-northern-australia-they-deserve-protection-254612

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: We talk a lot about being ‘resilient’. But what does it actually mean?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter McEvoy, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Curtin University

    Kinga Howard/Unsplash

    In a world with political polarisation, war, extreme weather events and increasing costs of living, we need to be able to cope as individuals and communities.

    Our capacity to cope with very real stressors in our lives – our resilience – can determine whether we thrive, just survive, or are deprived of a reasonable quality of life.

    Stress vs resilience

    Resilience means having the ability to cope with, and rebound from, life’s challenges and still achieve our goals.

    Stress isn’s something to be avoided. We need to feel some stress to achieve our best. Exposure to manageable levels of stress and adversity develops our coping skills and resilience.

    But if we feel too much stress, we can flounder or become overwhelmed.

    The ability to re-activate ourselves when we feel down, fatigued or disengaged helps to optimise our focus and motivation. Sportspeople, for example, might listen to high intensity music just before a competition to increase their energy levels.

    Conversely, the ability to dampen down emotional intensity can make use feel less stressed or anxious. Exercising, listening to relaxing music, or patting a much-loved pet can prevent high arousal from interfering with completing a task.

    Effective emotion regulation is crucial for adapting to life’s ups and downs, and keeping us on a relatively even keel.

    How does resilience develop?

    Resilience emerges from interactions between personal and environmental factors.

    In addition to emotion regulation skills, personal factors that can bolster resilience include academic achievement, developing a range of skills and abilities (such as sport and music) and problem-solving skills. Many of these skills can be fostered in childhood. And if one area of life isn’t going well, we can still experience confidence, joy and meaning in others.

    Sometimes we need to increase our energy levels, other times we need to lower anxiety.
    Ilias Chebbi/Unsplash

    People who reflect on traumatic experience and develop new positive meanings about themselves (getting through it means I’m strong!) and life (a greater appreciation) can also have higher levels of resilience.

    Genetic factors and temperament also play an important role. Some of us are born with nervous systems that respond with more anxiety than others in novel, uncertain, or potentially threatening situations. And some of us are more likely to avoid rather than approach these situations. These traits tend to be associated with lower levels of resilience. But we can all learn skills to build our resilience.

    Environmental factors that promote resilience include:

    • a nurturing home environment
    • supportive family and peer relationships
    • cultural identity, belonging and rituals
    • modelling from others overcoming hardship
    • community cohesion
    • government policies that provide social safety nets, strong education, anti-discrimination and inclusion
    • investment in facilities, spaces, services and networks that support the quality of life and wellbeing of communities.

    Can resilience be taught?

    Many factors associated with resilience are modifiable, so it stands to reason that interventions that aim to bolster them should be helpful.

    There is evidence that interventions that promote optimism, flexibility, active coping and social support-seeking can have small yet meaningful positive effects on resilience and emotional wellbeing in children and adults.

    However, school-based programs give us reason to be cautious.

    A trial across 84 schools in the United Kingdom evaluated the effectiveness of school-based mindfulness programs. More than 3,500 students aged between 11 and 13 years received ten lessons of mindfulness and a similar number did not.

    There was no evidence that mindfulness had any benefit on risk for depression, social, emotional and behavioural functioning, or wellbeing after one year. Teaching school children mindfulness at scale did not appear to bolster resilience.

    In fact, there was some evidence it did harm – and it was most harmful for students at the highest risk of depression. The intervention was not deemed to be effective or cost-effective and was not recommended by the authors.

    In another recent trial, researchers found an emotion regulation intervention with Year 8 and 9 school children was unhelpful and even harmful, although children who engaged in more home practice tended to do better.

    The evidence doesn’t support school-based resilience programs.
    Mitchell Luo/Unsplash

    These interventions may have failed for a number of reasons. The content may not have been delivered in a way that was sufficiently engaging, comprehensive, age-appropriate, frequent, individually tailored, or relevant to the school context. Teachers may also not be sufficiently trained in delivering these interventions for them to be effective. And students didn’t co-design the interventions.

    Regardless of the reasons, these findings suggest we need to be cautious when delivering universal interventions to all children. It may be more helpful to wait until there are early signs of excessive stress and intervening in an individualised way.

    What does this mean for resilience-building?

    Parents and schools have a role in providing children with the sense of security that gives them confidence to explore their environments and make mistakes in age-appropriate ways, and providing support when needed.

    Parents and teachers can encourage children to try to solve problems themselves before getting involved. Problem-solving attempts should be celebrated even more than success.

    Schools need to allocate their scarce resources to children most in need of practical and emotional support in non-stigmatising ways, rather than universal approaches. Most children will develop resilience without intervention programs.

    To promote resilience, schools can foster positive peer relationships, cultural identity and involvement in creative, sporting and academic pursuits. They can also highlight others’ recovery and resilience stories to demonstrate how growth can occur from adversity.

    More broadly in the community, people can work on developing their own emotion regulation skills to bolster their confidence in their ability to manage adversity.

    Think about how you can:

    • approach challenges in constructive ways
    • actively problem-solve rather than avoid challenges
    • genuinely accept failure as part of being human
    • establish healthy boundaries
    • align your behaviour with your values
    • receive social and professional support when needed.

    This will help you navigate the ebbs and flows of life in ways that support recovery and growth.



    Read more:
    People’s mental health goes downhill after repeated climate disasters – it’s an issue of social equity

    Peter McEvoy is a Professor of clinical psychology at the Curtin enAble Institute and School of Population Health. He is also a Senior Clinical Psychologist at The Centre for Clinical Interventions, Perth, and a Board Member of the Australian Association of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. He does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article. The opinions and perspectives in this article are his own.

    – ref. We talk a lot about being ‘resilient’. But what does it actually mean? – https://theconversation.com/we-talk-a-lot-about-being-resilient-but-what-does-it-actually-mean-245256

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Graves Leads Transportation Committee in Advancing Legislation to Cut Waste, Secure the Border, and Modernize the Air Traffic Control System

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sam Graves (6th District of Missouri)

    WASHINGTON, DC – The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by Chairman Sam Graves (MO-06), approved its budget reconciliation proposal to secure the border, support President Trump’s national security agenda, and modernize America’s air traffic control system. These investments will be more than offset by slashing funding for Green New Deal style programs, requiring electric vehicles (EVs) begin paying for their use of the highway system just like other highway users, and other deficit reduction measures. The T&I Committee will now send its proposal, which reduces the deficit by more than $10 billion, to the House Budget Committee. 

    “The Committee took decisive action in support of the President’s America First agenda,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (MO-06). “My proposal cuts wasteful Green New Deal spending and ensures that electric vehicles finally start paying for the maintenance of our roads and bridges. We also approved historic investments in the United States Coast Guard to strengthen our national and border security, and we took equally important strides towards finally modernizing the nation’s outdated air traffic control system. ”

    Chairman Graves’ proposal would reduce federal spending and deficits by rescinding unobligated funds and eliminating seven unnecessary Green New Deal style programs created in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Those programs include the Neighborhood Access and Equity Grants, Environmental Review Implementation Funds, and Low-Carbon Transportation Materials Grants under the Federal Highway Administration, among others. 

    The proposal ensures that electric vehicles pay to fix our roads and bridges like other vehicles. The Highway Trust Fund (HTF) is funded by user-fees. However, since EVs do not use gas, they do not pay the user fee, and this inequity contributes to a growing shortfall in the funds to repair roads and bridges across the country.

    Chairman Graves proposal provides additional investments in the U.S. Coast Guard to protect national security and secure our maritime borders. It gives the Coast Guard the tools it needs to better protect our borders, stopping illegal immigrants and drugs from entering the country, and protectour national and economic security in the Arctic, where competitors such as China and Russia are aggressively expanding their activities.

    It also invests in the improved safety and reliability of America’s air traffic control (ATC) system, replacing outdated ATC technology, modernizing the ATC system, and enhancing the hiring of air traffic controllers following several aviation tragedies in recent months, which are priorities of the President and DOT Secretary Duffy.

    More information from yesterday’s Committee markup of the proposal is available here.

     

     

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Pelosi at Reframe Festival on the Future of Democratic Leadership

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

    Boston – Yesterday, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi virtually joined PBS News Hour co-anchor and co-managing editor Geoff Bennett at the Reframe Festival in San Francisco to discuss the future of Democratic leadership. The conversation was presented by PBS News in partnership with Bay Area member station KQED.

    Click here to watch the full conversation.

    Read key quotes from the conversation below:

    On President Trump’s proposed Budget:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. The budget that the President put out that we just are reviewing now is one that is really a shame.

    A budget should be a statement of our national values. What is important to us as a nation should be reflected in that budget. It should be a budget of investing in our future for our children and the rest. And if you review the budget that the President put forth, he cuts education. Nothing brings more money to the Treasury than the education of the American people. Early childhood, K-12, higher education, post-grad, lifetime learning for our workers.

    The best dollar you can spend in the federal budget, I do believe, is basic biomedical research. The biblical power to cure, to save lives, to save funds for families who are confronted with illness and the rest. The list goes on and on. And why? Because he says he has to cut so that he can be fiscally sound—at the same time as he’s giving enormous tax cuts to the wealthiest people in our country.

    On Democrats choosing when to fight back:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. You have to prioritize carefully and make the distinction so the American people can see what impact this has on their lives—carefully prioritizing and at the same time show the narrative, again, with some specific issues, show the narrative thematically of what he is doing to our country. Again: disgraceful, shameful, un-American.

    So again, we always have this debate: whether we go for opportunity, security, all of those things or specific pieces of legislation—we do both.

    On Leader Hakeem Jeffries:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Our Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, is a master of this: repetition. Prioritize and repeat. Repetition, repetition, repetition. He’s so eloquent, and he’s so forceful in getting the message across.

    And we know what is going to make things different too—by using different platforms. When I was Leader, we won in ’06, we won in ’18. But now we have different platforms—taking messages to platforms where people receive their information much more instantaneously. And he understands all of that. I’m so proud of his leadership.

    He has the unity of our Caucus, the brilliance, and the strategic thinking of a leader. And again, values that would be reflected in a budget put forth by the Democrats and Leader Jeffries.

    On a new generation of Democratic leadership:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Well, I’m an advocate for it. I was very, very proud to step aside. I wish that we had been in the majority—we will be in about eighteen months. And the point is, when I became the Leader after Dick Gephardt, he very graciously—when I became Leader, he did not interfere. And I don’t interfere. It’s about a new generation of leadership, thinking differently, employing the different tools of communication that exist now, and again, having the unity of the Caucus to support what you’re doing—not only as Leader but the legislation that you would put forth.

    But we have to make sure the public knows what is in their interest—their kitchen table interest—the cost of health care and prescription drugs, the cost of education, the cost of housing, all of it.

    And compare where the Democrats are and where the Republicans are on all of it. And as I say, not only Hakeem, but the rest of the Leadership—Katherine Clark, Massachusetts, her state; Pete Aguilar from California; Ted Lieu from California—so many, all champions on messaging and champions for working families.

    On a Republican cuts to the American safety net:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. As far as Medicare, Social Security—they paid into this. It’s not an entitlement. This is their money. They paid into this for their whole working careers. And now they’re going to say, we’re going to cut this out because we need to save money so we can give tax cuts to the richest people in America?

    No. No, we’re not doing that.

    On repairing the damage President Trump is doing:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. This is what we did in ’18. The President said, he said in the very distinguished way as he’s used to speaking, ‘Obamacare sucks.’

    I hate to even quote him, but I hope my grandchildren aren’t listening. Obamacare doesn’t suck. It cures. It cures.

    We went out there. We had 10,000 events around the country of people telling their stories. They didn’t talk about politics or provisions of the bill. They talked about their stories:

    ‘My baby was born with a heart condition.’

    ‘My wife had breast cancer.’

    ‘My mother — this or that.’

    They told their stories and how that bill made a difference in their lives. Not only did we win the election, we won it with 40 seats—31 of them in Trump districts. People said to me afterward, ‘Aren’t you lucky that the Affordable Care Act—that health care—became such a central issue of the campaign?’

    I said, ‘No, we weren’t lucky. We made our own luck.’

    And that’s what we will do between now and the election.

    We will win the House. Hakeem will be the Speaker. He’ll be historic in his leadership—as well as the other members of the Leadership—and all of it because of the courage of our Members to take the tough votes to get the job done.

    On a potential peace deal in Ukraine:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. I have no idea what it is that Putin has on Trump—politically, personally, financially, whatever it happens to be—that he should be kowtowing to Putin over and over again, saying that the Ukrainians started the war.

    But forget about that. [Russia] came into this country. They raped the women. They did that in front of their children, in front of their parents.

    They kidnapped the children—tens of thousands of them—sent them to Russia, far reaches of Russia. They murdered people in front of their family members. And they’re supposed to get land for that? That’s not where I am.

    But I’m not the President of Ukraine. I respect whatever decision he makes. But for us to say Russia should get land in order to leave—after they’ve committed crimes against humanity? Crimes against humanity.

    I don’t think Putin can go anyplace without getting arrested for his crimes against humanity—at least Europe recognizes that. Others recognize that—even if Donald Trump thinks that’s okay.

    On her proudest accomplishment and legacy:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Of course, the Affordable Care Act. Because this was directly, directly beneficial to America’s working families.

    And it’s about the national health care financial stability as well. But with all legislation, you want to do more. You don’t do more in terms of lowering the cost of prescription drugs.

    We did that in the IRA, but we can’t do it totally. We have to do it in stages, and I would like to do it all at once. But we have to get it passed in the Congress.

    What was the hardest thing? Well, I always knew we had the votes.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHNEIDER STATEMENT ON NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

    WASHINGTON – Rep. Brad Schneider, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s announcement that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as interim National Security Advisor, in addition to his existing duties:

    “Americans depend on our Commander in Chief to ensure that our national security – and the safety of our troops and citizens around the world – is a top priority. It is astounding that the President appears to not take our national security seriously by diminishing the roles of the National Security Advisor and the Secretary of State into part-time positions. 

    “The President was right to fire Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor, but adding his responsibilities to Marco Rubio’s already heavy load as Secretary of State demonstrates a blatant disregard for the scale and seriousness of the global crises we face. There is a war in Ukraine, a genocide in Darfur, and a brewing conflict in Kashmir. American Edan Alexander is one of 59 hostages still held by Hamas, a year and a half after Hamas terrorists brutally attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. 

    “The job of the National Security Advisor is more than a full-time job. The same is true for the Secretary of State. No serious leader would believe one person can manage both – let alone amid multiple international emergencies. 

    “I wish we had a President that took his role as Commander in Chief seriously and chose people for their expertise rather than blind loyalty.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with Prime Minister Albanese of Australia: 4 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    PM call with Prime Minister Albanese of Australia: 4 May 2025

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, this morning.

    The Prime Minister began by congratulating the Australian leader on his historic election win yesterday.

    Australia and the UK has a strong and enduring friendship, and the Prime Minister said he looked forward to working with Prime Minister Albanese in the years to come, including through increased trade and economic security for working people in both countries.

    Discussing defence and security, including our shared support for Ukraine, the leaders also agreed to increase ambition on our joint submarine programme, AUKUS. The Prime Minister said he would ask his AUKUS Adviser, Sir Stephen Lovegrove, to travel to Australia in the coming weeks to discuss the programme further.

    The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Yale scholars’ move to Canada can prompt us to reflect on the rule of law

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jeffrey B. Meyers, Instructor, Legal Studies and Criminology, Kwantlen Polytechnic University

    In the most non-controversial and basic sense, the rule of law means formal legality. The law binds citizens and governments. When it comes to nation states, law is enacted by democratically elected legislatures; legal statutes are openly available and sufficiently clear to follow. State actions can be judicially reviewed for compliance with a constitution.

    In its more ambitious conceptualization, the rule of law can also be understood to include substantive human rights and equity. In Canada, The Constitution Act of 1982 references the rule of law in its preamble.

    The modern Canadian iteration of the rule of law — which includes substantive ideas about human rights as well as Indigenous treaty rights — is based on liberal ideas shared by many countries, including, historically, the United States. What distinguishes a rule-of-law state from an authoritarian one to a large extent is whether state actions can be judicially reviewed for compliance with a constitution.

    Although rule of law scholars debate the parameters of the concept of the rule of law, few would debate that what is happening during U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term presents anything other than a wholesale attack on the rule of law both domestically in the U.S and internationally.

    I am a rule of law researcher, educator and lawyer. Since Trump was elected to his first term in 2016, I’ve relied on American scholars, from a variety of disciplines, to understand what is happening.

    These include two prominent Yale professors, philosopher Jason Stanley and historian Timothy Snynder, both of whom have recently announced they’re moving to the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto.

    Authoritarian impulse

    In their scholarship, Stanley and Snyder have sought to explain the authoritarian impulses of the first Trump administration and how to resist it.

    Stanley’s father, a German Jew who fled Germany for America in 1939, carries the remembrance of fascism.

    Both Stanley and Snyder explore the similarities between what is occurring in Trump’s America, Viktor Orban’s Hungary, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Xi Jinping’s China and, equally chillingly, between Trump’s America and Adolf Hitler’s Germany. Even prior to the first Trump presidency, Stanley already asked in his 2015 book, How Propoganda Works, whether the U.S., “the world’s oldest liberal democracy,” might already have become a liberal democracy “in name only?”



    Read more:
    Why the radical right has turned to the teachings of an Italian Marxist thinker

    Examination of propaganda, rhetoric

    In his 2018 book, The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America, Snyder described Trump as a “sado-populist, whose policies were designed to hurt the most vulnerable people of his own electorate.”

    Stanley’s focus on propaganda and rhetoric were especially useful for framing the politics of Trump.

    Similarly, Snyder’s focus on the similarities between Trump and other authoritarian leaders, through their attachment to extreme illiberal ideologies, helped frame public discourse in the U.S. during the first Trump presidency. “Illiberal” does not imply conservative in opposition to “being liberal” (with the resonance of “leftist”); rather, it denotes a repudiation of liberal democracy, in the words of political scientist Thomas J. Main.

    Both Stanley and Snyder are on the public record explaining their decision to immigrate to Canada, on the basis that they can no longer continue their scholarly activities in an American university, even a premier one like Yale.

    Jason Stanley speaks with Amanpour and Company.

    Improper interference

    This is an admission by important thinkers that civil society, intellectuals and critical scholars, in particular, are under assault.

    It comes as no surprise given other developments. Trump’s executive orders, threats to some university funding and crackdowns on activists and academics — as well as the attempted deportations of those without U.S. citizenship — have used the idea of combatting campus antisemitism as cover for an attack on free expression, academic independence and student activism.

    From my perspective as a Jewish person, a post-secondary teacher and as someone with a legal education, all of these developments have hit hard, especially alongside accounts of some of America’s most prestigious law firms caving to improper interference by the Trump administration.

    What ‘fascism’ means

    In the introduction to his bestselling 2020 book, How Fascism Works, Stanley wrote: “In recent years, multiple countries across the world have been overtaken by a certain kind of far-right nationalism; the list includes Russia, Hungary, Poland, India, Turkey and the United States.”

    He explains the choice of the word “fascism” to speak about each of these countries, despite their differences of degree and context:

    “I have chosen the label ‘fascism’ for ultra nationalism of some variety (ethnic, religious, cultural), with the nation represented in the person of an authoritarian leader who speaks on its behalf. As Donald Trump declared in his Republican National Convention speech in July 2016, ‘I am your voice.’”

    In his similarly bestselling book, On Tyranny, published in 2017, Snyder wrote: “To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is not basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights.”

    Now that Trump is back in office, Stanley and Snyder, as well as Snyder’s Yale colleague and spouse, Marie Shore, the celebrated author of The Ukrainian Night, are leaving Yale for Canada with good reason.

    Author Timothy Snyder speaks about Democracy and the Risk of Tyranny with Public Policy Forum.

    Shared mutual concern

    While the departure of a handful of prominent academics is hardly a trend, it raises questions about whether there will be an accelerated academic “brain drain”, or more American students in Canada.

    As a Canadian, I would like to say America’s loss is our gain, and I wish these scholars well. I am also aware that narratives of flight to Canada as refuge have historically bolstered national myths while obscuring Canadian inequities. My hope is that Canadians will not observe the arrival of U.S. scholars with smugness, but instead with shared concern.

    We should not be blind to this unique moment in which Canada is called to revisit why we care about Canada and keep watch on the rule of law. Yet, we must also recognize our own profound historical blind spots.

    For example, while an overt threat to sovereignty is new for some Canadians, it is nothing new for Canada’s Indigenous Peoples. Today it’s important to understand the distinctively Canadian importance of Indigenous law to any reaffirmation of the rule of law tradition in Canada in the 21st century.



    Read more:
    Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief is ‘prisoner of conscience’ after failure of Delgamuukw ruling 25 years ago

    Too much cynicism might prevent us from acknowledging the importance of these three scholars’ decisions to leave their country and come to ours at this particular time in history. However, my hope is also that we are also inspired by their considerable truth-telling skills to demand Canada also do better.

    Jeffrey B. Meyers 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. Yale scholars’ move to Canada can prompt us to reflect on the rule of law – https://theconversation.com/yale-scholars-move-to-canada-can-prompt-us-to-reflect-on-the-rule-of-law-254434

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –